SA Mourns Veteran Actor Jonathan Pienaar, Dead at 63

South Africa is mourning the loss of celebrated actor Jonathan Pienaar, who died in his sleep at his home in Johannesburg, Gauteng, on Monday, 10 November. He was 63 years old.

His ex-wife, Rosana Maya, confirmed the news, revealing that Pienaar’s health had worsened following a heart attack.

“Most beautiful man, unique soul… the world is a lesser place without you in it,” she wrote in a touching Facebook tribute.

Pienaar’s decades-long career spanned stage, film, and television, earning him recognition as one of South Africa’s most versatile performers. He was best known for his roles in “Yizo Yizo”, “Binnelanders”, “Generations”, and “The Lab”, while his film appearances included “Blood Diamond”, “Lord Jones is Dead”, and “The Whale Caller”.

Colleagues shared their heartfelt sentiments online, with director Ryan Kruger saying he was “devastated” by the loss of “one of our best SA character actors”.

Anton Dekker also remembered him as “a truly unique actor” and “a great human being”.

Pienaar, born on 16 September 1962, studied drama at Technikon Pretoria. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

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