Bio
Rea Rangaka is a South African actor, writer and director best known for his starring role as newly appointed fish-out-of-water Chief of Staff Martin Shai in the Mzansi Magic sitcom The Mayor. It was his first starring role in television.
Hailing from Benoni in the North West province, he did a BA Degree in English, Drama, Media and Film Production at the University of Cape Town in 2006, continuing with Film Practice and Theory the following year.
His first credited screen performance was in the role of Freddie Simon in the 2007 docu-drama film More Than Just a Game, directed by Junaid Ahmed, which reveals how political prisoners on Robben Island in South Africa founded the Makana F.A. in 1966.
Shortly after he made his television debut when he guest starred as Lentsoe in an episode of the long-running SABC2 comedy-drama series Khululeka, produced by Penguin Films which began life as an initiative of the Matla Trust, which was set up by the late President Nelson Mandela to educate first time voters.
In 2008 he was nominated for two awards at the second South African Comedy Awards, winning "Best One Person Show" for his self-penned Bafana Republic: Extra Time. He lost out in the "Best Breakthrough Act" to Trevor Noah, who was nominated in the same category long with Andrew Timm, who created the M-Net sitcom The Coconuts.
In 2011 Rea had a role in the feature film Paradise Stop, directed by Jann Turner and starring Rapulana Seiphemo, Kenneth Nkosi and Vusi Kunene.
Rea then wrote, produced and directed the short films For the Lovers Only (2012) and Ode in Blood (2013).
In 2014 he starred in an episode of the e.tv anthology series Mzansi Love playing Lungile, an advertising exec who sleeps with a colleague. The episode was titled "Friends with Benefits" (Season 3, Episode 2) and co-starred Schelaine Bennet.
In 2015 he landed a starring role on the Mzansi Magic sitcom The Mayor.
In 2017 he had a starring role in the second season of the SABC1 sitcom Single Guys, as cheeseboy Mazi.