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Born on August 5, 1934, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Zakes Mokae began his career as a jazz saxophonist. After relocating to England in 1961, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and became one of South Africa's most acclaimed actors for over twenty years.
Mokae was among the few performers who bridged the racially segregated communities, notably through his collaborations with white playwright Athol Fugard. Together, they established the radical theater group The Rehearsal Room in the 1950s, which focused on addressing the injustices in their country. His roles in "The Blood Knot," "Boesman and Lena," "A Lesson from Aloes," and "Master Harold...and the Boys" received widespread critical praise.
In 1969, he left South Africa to escape apartheid and moved to the United States. There, he earned a Tony Award in 1982 for "Master Harold..." and appeared in films such as A Dry White Season (1989), A Rage in Harlem (1991), and Waterworld (1995), though with less acclaim. His television credits include notable roles on "Law & Order," "Dream On," "Oz," "The X-Files," "The West Wing," and "Monk."
Later in life, Mokae settled in Las Vegas, where he served as the artistic director of the Nevada Shakespeare Company. He passed away at age 75 from complications following a stroke on September 11, 2009.
