Bio
Nhlanhla John Lata is a South African actor, dancer, singer, comedian, composer, writer, producer and director best known for playing a variety of roles on the sketch comedy television series Dube on 2 and Dube on 2 - Reloaded.
He also stars as family patriarch and plumber Mandla Nkosi in the SABC1 sitcom My Perfect Family, since 2011.
John also starred as drunken armchair philosopher and pseudo shrink Bingza in the Mzansi Magic telenovela Inkaba, from 2012-2013.
Lata has acted in numerous television series including S'gudi S'naysi, Khululeka, Young Vision, Soldier Soldier, Behind the Badge, Isidingo, Zero Tolerance, Stokvel, iZingane zoBaba and Out of Africa.
He was a dancer in the 1992 film Sarafina! and also had a bit part in the film The Air Up There.
Lata has an extensive theatre resume including such productions as Gone and Forgotten (directed by Eric Mlangeni), Sekunjalo and We! Mame! (both direcgted by Gibson Kente), Sikhulu directed by Jerry Mofokeng), the Aubrey Sekhabi-directed plays On My Birthday and Not with My Gun, The Island (directed by Jerry Pooe), The Suit (directed by Sello Maake ka-Ncube), Mr. Flatnose (directed by Martin Koboekae) and The Suitcase, directed by James Ngcobo.
He has also done extensive voiceover work, including the BBC radio drama Home Sweet Soweto.
In addition, he has worked on a number of projects for corporate clients including Tastic, Hilton Hotels, Old Mutual, FNB, Platinum Mines, Spoornet, Samancor and Eskom.
Lata is multilingual, speaking English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Xhosa, seTswana and seSotho. An accomplished musician, he plays guitar, mouth organ, mouth harp and piano.