Mzansi wakes up to heartbreaking news that veteran actor, Sam Phillips has reportedly passed away. His daughter, Mpumi Phillips confirmed the heartbreaking news.
Dr Phillips passed away today at the age of 72. The Doctor spent 3 weeks in hospital before he departed peacefully. He has graced Mzansi’s screens for decades recently having a stint on The Queen as Harriet’s father and currently playing Samuel Senior on Kings of Joburg. Dr Phillips was best known for his role as Odwa on the eighth season of the SABC1 drama series Soul City, in 2007.
Dr Phillips’ passion for the entertainment industry was born at a very young age. The actor began his acting journey at Langa High School in Cape Town.
Talking about industry pioneers without talking about the late Dr Phillips is impossible. Dr Phillips was one of the actors in the first black production of The Sacrifice of Kreli and joined the Market Theatre in 1971 with the Merchant of Venice. In a time when black people were fighting for their space in the entertainment industry, Dr Sam Phillips joined the non-racial People’s Space Theatre in 1974, and played in the first multi-racial production Lysistrata at the Space. His contribution to the entertainment industry went beyond his well orchestrated acting performances. He was also a musician, a composer, a director and a producer.
Dr Phillips’ contributions went as fast as earning him an Oscar nomination for playing the lead in Senzeni na?, which was nominated for Best Short Story with the American Film Institution (AFI) in 1990.
The late veteran also featured in various Mzansi favourites that include 90 Plein Street, Gaz’ Lam, Greed and Desire, Inkaba, Broken Vowsi, Cty SES’LA, Die Vierde Kabineto, Donkerland, Jacob’s Cross and Isibaya.
Mzansi has without doubt lost one of the greatest there ever was. His contribution to the entertainment industry will always be appreciated.
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