Share

Actor and producer James Alexander dead at 45

accreditation
James Gracie
James Gracie
Photo: Supplied/DStv
  • South African actor and producer James Alexander, also known as James Gracie, has died. He was 45. 
  • Alexander was diagnosed with cancer in January 2019, but he and his wife, Anel decided to keep it private.
  • Anel confirmed her husband's death in a lengthy Facebook post on Saturday.


The versatile South African actor and producer James Alexander, also known as James Gracie, has died after losing his battle on Friday with head and neck cancer. He was 45. 

Alexander was diagnosed with cancer in January 2019, but he and his wife, Anel decided to keep it private. The couple who left South Africa in 2016 returned to the country last year after living in Los Angeles and working in Hollywood for five years.

Anel revealed the death of her husband on Facebook on Saturday morning.

"To say my heart is broken would not do justice to the 22 years we spent together. This year I've crossed a rubicon: I've spent more of my life with you than without. I can not imagine having to do life without you by my side," she wrote. 

"You were my first love, my best friend, my work buddy, my travel buddy, there's-something-in-your-teeth-buddy. The first person to break my heart and then mend it again. The only person to witness me, all of me: the good, the bad, the pyjamas...."

"You were magic, a unicorn, and everybody knew it. You loved people, and they loved you. And oh, how you made us laugh! You haven't just fought a good fight, my baby. You fought the best fight."

She concluded: "You finished the race well, the suffering is over. Now Rest In Peace, my Jamie. Cancer might have won the battle for your body, but your soul was never beaten. I will always love you xxx."

Alexander was best known for his role as Dr Rico Maartens in the M-Net and kykNET (DStv 144) Afrikaans soap Binnelanders and also snagged the role of Tristan in M-Net's The Wild.

He's worked in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States over the past 15 years.

He was the co-presenter of the M-Net reality competition show Project Fame in 2004 and appeared in SABC1's Generations, SABC2's Home Affairs and in the short films Thoughts, Lost and Voeltjie. He appeared in the third season of the American series Black Sails, Donderland, Geraamtes in die Kas, Heartlines, Madiba, Roots, The Book of Negroes, and as Lemmer in M-Net's Trackers


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE