Bio
Lionel Newton was a South African actor and director best known to television audiences for creating, writing and starring as a three-dimensional stereotype of himself in the SABC3 comedy series Sorted, from 2005-2006.
His numerous other television credits include You Be The Judge, Barney Barnato, Life Begins at Forty, Soul Buddyz, Isidingo, Crossing the Line, Rhythm City and End Game.
Lionel also acted in various films and made-for-TV movies including Gums & Noses, An African Dream, Stander, Forgiveness, Mama Jack, Triomf, Jozi, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Nothing for Mahala.
His extensive stage resume includes productions such as Macbeth, Rodney Gets His Gun, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Might's Dream, Thina Bantu, Measure for Measure, Oliver, Hamlet, The Seagull, Hello and Goodbye, and Antony and Cleopatra.
His theatre awards include the Vita Award for Best Lead Actor for his role as Estragon in the existential play Waiting for Godot, in 2002.
In 2006 he received two SAFTA nominations: one for Best Actor in a TV Comedy for Sorted and one for Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film for Gums & Noses.
He was also nominated for a SAFTA for Sorted the following year.
In 2011 he won the SAFTA Golden Horn for Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film for his role as Martin in Jozi.
In 2014 and 2016 he received SAFTA nominations for Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film for his roles John Wraith in Sleepers Wake and Mack in the movie While You Weren't Looking.
Lionel died on 11 August 2026. His ex-wife Lara Foot announced his death and didn't disclose the cause. He was 61.