Tongayi Chirisa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tongayi Chirisa
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Tongayi Arnold Chirisa
August 8, 1981 |
| Nationality | Zimbabwean |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Actor, singer, poet |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | Acting |
Tongayi Arnold Chirisa is a talented actor and singer from Zimbabwe. He is well-known for his roles in many TV shows and movies. You might recognize him as Man Friday from the TV series Crusoe, Father Nicholas in The Jim Gaffigan Show, Hekule in Mr. Bones 2: Back from the Past, or as the voice of Cheetor in the exciting movie Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Contents
Tongayi Chirisa's Early Life and Education
Tongayi Chirisa went to Lomagundi College when he was younger. He also studied at AFDA, The School for the Creative Economy. There, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Live Performance. This means he learned all about acting and performing live.
Tongayi Chirisa's Acting Journey
Tongayi Chirisa started his acting career in Zimbabwe. He played "Detective Trevor Davies" in a popular TV show called Studio 263. He also appeared in several movies. One of his most famous early films was Tanyaradzwa in 2004. For this role, he won an award for Best Actor in Film and Television.
He has also been in music videos and is a singer himself. Tongayi starred in a radio drama called Mopani Junction. He has won many NAMA Awards, which are important awards in Zimbabwe.
Later, he played the main character in the comedy movie Mr. Bones 2: Back from the Past. He also appeared in a mini-series called Rough and an international film named Skin. In Skin, he acted alongside Sam Neill. He also had a lead role in a local drama series called Redemption.
Tongayi became known internationally for playing Man Friday in the NBC TV series Crusoe. This show was based on the classic story Robinson Crusoe. He also appeared in Sleepy Hollow, a show inspired by The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. In 2017, he played Father Nicholas on The Jim Gaffigan Show. More recently, he voiced the character Cheetor in the big movie Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which came out in 2023.
Movies and TV Shows
Tongayi Chirisa has been in many movies and TV shows. Here are some of his notable roles:
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Tanyaradzwa | ||
| 2008 | Ace of Hearts | Tebsane Masa | Short film |
| 2008 | Zimbabwe | Charles | |
| 2008 | Skin | Township Priest | |
| 2008 | Mr. Bones 2: Back from the Past | Hekule | |
| 2009 | Gargoyle | Themba | Short film |
| 2011 | Geezas | Sammy the Mouth | |
| 2013 | Stand By | Dee | Short film |
| 2014 | Whipping Boy | Olly 'Napalm' Harris | Short film |
| 2016 | Happiness Is a Four-letter Word | Thomas | |
| 2017 | The Zim | William Zimunya | Short film |
| 2020 | Palm Springs | Jerry Schlieffen | |
| 2020 | Antebellum | Eli Stokes/Professor | |
| 2022 | Next Exit | Father Jack | |
| 2023 | Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | Cheetor (voice) |
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-2004 | Studio 263 | Detective Trevor Davis | Soap Opera |
| 2008–2009 | Crusoe | Friday | Main role |
| 2009 | Diamonds | Oba Sewele | TV film |
| 2010 | Mrs Mandela | Arguing husband | TV film |
| 2010 | Barack Obama's Cousin | Barack Obama's Cousin | TV miniseries |
| 2011 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Interrogator | Episode: "Betrayal" |
| 2012 | American Horror Story: Asylum | Miles | Episode: "Dark Cousin" |
| 2012 | H+: The Digital Series | African Soldier | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Sleepy Hollow | Arthur Bernard | Episode: "The Sin Eater" |
| 2013 | Gaffigan | Father Nicholas Ngungumbane | TV film |
| 2015 | Whitney | Gary Houston | TV film |
| 2015–16 | The Jim Gaffigan Show | Father Nicholas | Main role |
| 2016 | Mars Project | Neil Cormack | TV film |
| 2017–2019 | iZombie | Justin Bell | Recurring role (season 3), guest (seasons 4–5) |
| 2018 | Hawaii Five-0 | Don | Episode: "Kopi Wale No I Ka I'a A 'Eu No Ka Ilo" |
| 2018 | The Guest Book | Kwame | Episode: "2.5" |
| 2020 | The Good Doctor | Kerryś Husband | Guest (season 3 episode 11) |
| 2021 | Another Life | Richard Ncube | Recurring role (season 2) |
| 2022 | Women of the Movement | Medgar Evers | 4 episodes |
| 2023–present | Mayfair Witches | Ciprien Grieve | Main role |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Assassin's Creed Shadows | Yasuke (voice) |
More About Tongayi Chirisa
You can find more information about Tongayi Chirisa on his official website.
See also
In Spanish: Tongayi Chirisa para niños
