Jack Devnarain
{{short description|South African actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jack Devnarain
| other_names =
| image = Jack Devnarain.jpg
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| alt =
| caption = Devnarain speaking at Copyright and Public Interest, Africa and the Global South Conference
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|2|9|mf=yes}}
| birth_name = Jack Devnarain
| birth_place = Tongaat, South Africa
| death_date =
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| nationality = South African
| alma_mater =
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| years_active = 1993–present
| party =
| spouse = Pam Devnarain
| children = 2
| awards =
| father =
| mother =
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| website = http://www.jackdevnarain.co.za
| footnotes =
| occupation = Actor
}}
Jack Devnarain (born 9 February 1971), is a South African actor.{{cite web | url=http://www.jackdevnarain.co.za/about-me| title=About Me |publisher=Jack Devnarain official website| access-date=15 November 2020}} He is best known for the roles in the television serials The Ghost and the Darkness, Isidingo and Mayfair.{{cite web| url=https://faizalsayed.com/index.php/2020/06/26/actor-jack-devnarain-talks-about-his-life-and-activism/| title=Actor Jack Devnarain Talks about his Life and Activism| publisher=faizalsayed| access-date=15 November 2020| archive-date=8 May 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508230712/https://faizalsayed.com/index.php/2020/06/26/actor-jack-devnarain-talks-about-his-life-and-activism/| url-status=dead}}
Personal life
He was born on 9 February 1971 in Tongaat (now oThongathi), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His mother was a drama teacher.{{cite web | url=http://www.702.co.za/index.php/articles/247810/friday-profile-jack-devnarain-aka-rajesh-kumar| title=Friday Profile: Jack Devnarain aka Rajesh Kumar|publisher=PAIA| access-date=15 November 2020}}
He is married to Pam Devnarain and is a father of two children.{{cite web | url=https://okmzansi.co.za/10-things-dont-know-jack-devnarain| title=10 Things you don’t know about Jack Devnarain |publisher=okmzansi | access-date=15 November 2020}}
Career
He started his acting career in Durban through the community theatre circuit. During this period, he studied law at the University of KZN and graduated in 1993. In 1996, he made his acting debut in the film The Ghost and the Darkness with a minor role. Then in 1998, he appeared in the popular television serial Isidingo with a supportive role 'Rajesh Kumar' which became very popular. After graduation, he served in the Police Service for nine years until 2003 in the Rapid Response and Crime Prevention units where he was famous for his arrests and convictions. However, he continued to appear in television, cinema and theater during his busy lawful life.{{cite web | url=https://www.saguildofactors.co.za/bio/jack-devnarain| title=Jack Devnarain |publisher=saguildofactors | access-date=15 November 2020}}
In 2002, he moved to Johannesburg to be a professional actor. In 2011, he starred in the heist action film 31 million Reasons directed by .{{cite web | url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3095| title=Jack Devnarain Born: 09 February 1971 (49 years old) |publisher=tvsa | access-date=15 November 2020}} He later received a SAFTA nomination as the Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film. In 2015, he was being a part of the Trek4Mandela group that summited Kilimanjaro on Mandela Day 2015, which is an effort to raise funds to support Caring4Girls. He has then served as a member of the Executive Committee of South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) since 2010.{{cite web | url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2020-06-24-jack-devnarain-disappointed-that-ramaphosa-didnt-sign-the-performers-bill/| title=Jack Devnarain 'disappointed' that Ramaphosa didn't sign the performers' bill |publisher=timeslive | access-date=15 November 2020}}
In 2018, he appeared in the South African Indian action crime film Mayfair. He played the supportive role of 'Jalaal' in the film, which later received positive reviews.{{Cite web|url=https://filmfestival.capetown/mayfair/|title=Mayfair – Cape Town International Film Market & Festival – CTIFMF|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-11-19}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|url=https://m.channel24.co.za/Movies/Reviews/mayfair-20181014|title=Mayfair|date=2018-10-14|website=Channel|access-date=2019-11-19}} The film was also screened at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival and Africa in Motion Film Festival in October 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indianspice.co.za/2018/09/johannesburgs-mayfair-suburb-goes-international-in-new-movie/|title=Johannesburg’s Mayfair suburb goes international in new movie|date=2018-09-28|website=IndianSpice|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-19}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.screenafrica.com/2018/11/06/film/business/mayfair-opens-to-great-reviews/|title=Mayfair opens to great reviews|last=Press|first=Indigenous Film Distribution|date=2018-11-06|website=Screen Africa|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-19}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Year | Film | Role | Genre | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Ghost and the Darkness | Nervous Sikh Orderly | Film | |
| 1998 | Isidingo | Rajesh Kumar | TV series | |
| 2004 | The Eastern Bride | Zahoor Mustafa | Home Video | |
| 2005 | City Ses'la | Uncle Prakash | TV series | |
| 2008 | On the Couch | Dev | TV series | |
| 2009 | Tornado and the Kalahari Horse Whisperer | Doctor | Film | |
| 2010 | Florida Road | Doctor | Film | |
| 2011 | 31 Million Reasons | Ronnie Gopal | Film | |
| 2018 | Liberty | Mr. Bhandari | TV mini-series | |
| 2018 | Mayfair | Jalaal | Film | |
| TBD | Alleyway | Doctor Hakeem | Film |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm0222834}}
- [https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/local/former-isidingo-star-jack-devnarain-alerts-president-to-brewing-storm-46427641 Former 'Isidingo' star Jack Devnarain alerts president to brewing storm]
- [https://ewn.co.za/2019/10/10/actors-are-told-take-it-or-leave-it-says-former-isidingo-star Actors are told 'take it or leave it', says former 'Isidingo' star]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Devnarain, Jack}}
Category:South African people of Indian descent
Category:South African male film actors
Category:South African male television actors
Category:Male actors from Durban