A sudden illness has ended the life of the South African actress and model Charlbi Dean Kriek. The actress passed away on Monday, August 29, at a New York hospital, according to Deadline.
Charlbi Dean was an emerging actress and an established model. DC fans may recognize her from the ‘Black Lightning’ superhero series.
A publication made by a local media in Cape Town called Capetownetc states that in 2009 the actress suffered a serious traffic accident.
In the accident, the actress was seriously injured, with damage to two vertebrae, four ribs, wrist, elbows and internal organs, including the lungs.
A terrible accident
In 2008, 18-year-old Charlbi and her boyfriend Ashton Schnehage (25, also a model) were in a serious car accident. Ashton told The Sunday Times that she “struggled to get her out of the car” and that she was rescued “shortly before the vehicle caught fire”.
In the accident, Charlbi “damaged two vertebrae, broke the wrist, four ribs and an elbow. She also suffered other internal injuries, including a collapsed left lung,” The Sunday Times reported. But she survived; It wasn’t her time yet.
Beginnings as an actress
After leaving the hospital, Charlbi took a break from her career. However, she would not last long, because in 2010 she appeared in her first film: the South African school drama ‘Spud’.
Engaged to Luke Volker
As for her personal life, Charlbi was engaged to model Luke Volker. He was also South African, but they spent most of their time in New York.
Shining at the Cannes film festival in May
Recently, the actress was in the spotlight for the release of her new movie, ‘Triangle of Sadness’. It was the biggest project of her career as an actress, in this project she shared the poster with Woody Harrelson.
Crowned with a Palme d’Or
The film, directed by Ruben Östlund, opens in October 2022 but has already made a big impression at the Cannes film festival. She won the highest award of the gala, a Palme d’Or.
More than a decade in acting.
Other films in which Charlbi Dean participated were ‘Spud’, ‘Blood in the Water’, ‘Don’t Sleep’ and ‘Porthole’ to name a few. All these films date from the last twelve years.
Born in Cape Town
Charlbi Dean Kriek was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 5, 1990. As a child, she was already determined to succeed in show business.
A child star
At a very young age, Charlbi began modeling. She was appearing in catalogs and commercials by the age of six. Then, at age twelve, she signed with Alfa Model Management. Her modeling work was so hectic that she had to be homeschooled from the age of fourteen.
Teen supermodel
As a teenager, Charlbi appeared on the covers of Vogue and Tatler magazines. She also did “edgy photo shoots,” as the South African Sunday Times described them, for brands like Gucci, United Colors of Benetton and Ralph Lauren.
From Cape Town to Hollywood
Acting was always her priority over modelling, Charlbi would later tell Vogue Scandinavia. After ‘Spud,’ she made at least one movie a year and spent more and more time in Hollywood.
Charlbi Dean in ‘Black Lightning’
In The CW’s superhero series ‘Black Lightning’, Charlbi played the antihero Syonide. Her recurring character was a trained assassin with special powers.
A promising career cut short
Just as she was about to make her Hollywood breakthrough, Charlbi Dean Kriek’s life was cut short. As Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian writes: “Who knows what she might have done? It’s a sad thought, probably pointless… But what a tragedy.”
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
