Bio
David Dennis is a South African actor best known for his starring role as Sol Grootboom on the SABC1 television drama series Soul City (1997-2010) and Soul Buddyz, from 2000-2003.
He also played the recurring character of Sew Sew Tukarrs in 10 episodes of the science fiction series Charlie Jade, in 2005.
Other television series he has appeared in include Sterk Skemer, Rhodes, Colossus of Africa (for BBC One), Behind the Badge, Isidingo, Justice For All (seasons 1 and 3), It Rained Last Night and Thetha Msawawa. He was also a guest on 7de Laan (2009), played Dr Balthazar in Rhythm City (2010) and guest starred on 90 Plein Street, in 2011.
He also appeared in the BBC television film/docu-drama Krakatoa, directed by Sam Miller starring Rupert Penry-Jones.
Dennis portrayed various establishment figures – from British generals to prison wardens – in the M-Net comedy series Van der Walt's Fault, from April to May, 2008.
In 2011 he was cast in the Cinemax original action series Strike Back in a recurring role and had a guest starring role in the second season of the ITV thriller series Kidnap and Ransom.
Feature film credits include Red Dust (2004), Coup! directed by Simon-Cellan Jones, 10,000 B.C. directed by Roland Emmerich (2008) and Disgrace, directed by Steve Jacobs and starring John Malkovich.
Other highlights from his film career include the role of Mr. Isaacs in Disgrace opposite John Malkovich; Mrs. Mandela, in the role of Ismael Ayob opposite Sophie Okonedo; the animated feature film Zambezia (replaced by Leonard Nimoy for the American release); and Darryl Roodt's 2010 film Winnie where he appears as The TRC Chairperson in the final chapter.
He also played the role of Jacob in the feature film The World Unseen, based on the novel by Shamim Sarif, for which he received a SAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Feature Film, in 2009.
Awards in theatre and musical theatre productions include five prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, four for Shakespearean roles in Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Two Gentlemen of Verona.
He has also received awards for his performances in The Ride Across Lake Constance, Loot, Frank 'n Stein, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the musical adaptation of Far from the Madding Crowd.
In March 2012 David won his sixth prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, four of which are for the enormous variety of Shakespearean roles he has played.
First for both Hortensio in Taming of the Shrew and Justice Shallow Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, the second for Malvolio in Twelfth Night, the third for a range of roles - Launce/Antonio/Thurio/Eglamour and Lucetta, a waiting woman - in Two Gentlemen of Verona and finally for Buckingham and seven other roles in Richard III.
Other awards include a Vita for Frank (Frank 'n Stein), a Dalro Award for Riff Raff and another Vita for Frank 'n Furter (The Rocky Horror Picture Show).
Musical theatre appearances include Pangloss/Voltaire (Candide), Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd), Riff Raff and Frank 'n Furter (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), Michael (I Do I Do!) which opened the Theatre on the Square), Bela Zangler (Crazy For You), Gerald (Me And My Girl), Dr. Prospero (Return to the Forbidden Planet), the Spirit of Broadway SA tour, Starlight Classics with The CTSO & the Drakensberg Boys Choir.
In 2008 he played Charles Guiteau in Assassins, after some absence from the musical stage. In 2009 he appeared in the Market Theatre production of Brothers in Blood followed by Educating Rita co-produced with Anthea Thompson.
In 2010 he appeared in the National Arts Festival co-production of Richard III which also played the Artscape and Market Theatres in 2011, followed by Ruth and the Major General in the sell-out season of the Theatre On The Square production The Pirates Of Penzance.
Richard III and Brothers In Blood returned yet again in 2012 to Artscape Theatre and the National Arts Festival. A Midsummer Night's Dream hit the comic spot for 2012 also at Artscape and the National Arts and Schools Festivals.
He also starred in the world premiere of Ariel Dorman's Delirium at the Market Theatre and in tandem with Brothers in Blood at the Witness Hilton Festival in Sept 2012.
The Pirates of Penzance, which won him the Naledi for Best Comedy performance and for Most Cutting Edge production, is also due for a return season at the Theatre On The Square for Christmas 2012.
David is a patron of the Themba Interactive Theatre - HIV/AIDS Awareness and Education, and also taught acting at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in the Musical Theatre department for nine years.
He regularly adjudicates and is external examiner for the Wits Drama Dept and TUT Musical Theatre department.