Charlbi Dean Kriek (/ˈʃɑːrlbi/ SHARL-bee;[1] 5 February 1990 – 29 August 2022) was a South African model and actress.[2] She was best known for her roles in the Spud films (2010–2013), the superhero drama series Black Lightning (2018) and the Palme d'Or-winning dark comedy Triangle of Sadness (2022).

Charlbi Dean
Dean in 2022 at the Cannes Film Festival
Born
Charlbi Dean Kriek

(1990-02-05)5 February 1990
Cape Town, South Africa
Died29 August 2022(2022-08-29) (aged 32)
New York City, US
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active2003–2022
PartnerLuke Volker (2018–2022, her death)

Early life and career

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Dean was born on 5 February 1990[3][4] to Joanne Muller and Johan Kriek. She had a brother.[5][6] She began modelling at the age of six, appearing in commercials and catalogues. She signed with Alfa Model Management when she was 12 and was homeschooled from the age of 14.[7] She attended Waterfront Theatre School in her hometown of Cape Town,[8][9] traveling widely for her career.[10][11]

In October 2008, Dean and fellow model Ashton Schnehage survived a car crash. Her injuries included a broken wrist, four broken ribs, and a collapsed lung.[12] She was hospitalised at Milnerton Medi-Clinic and received life-saving surgery.[7][13] She took a break from her career after the accident.[14]

In 2010, Dean made her acting debut in the film adaptation of Spud as Amanda, a role she reprised in the sequel Spud 2: The Madness Continues. She went on to star in the films Don't Sleep in 2017 and An Interview with God in 2018.[15][16] Also in 2018, she landed the role of Syonide, a recurring character she played for two seasons of the Arrowverse series Black Lightning.[17][18] In February 2020, she was cast in a leading role in Ruben Östlund's satirical film Triangle of Sadness,[19] which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and won the Palme d'Or.[5][20] Her performance in the film received critical praise, with some considering it as what could have been her breakout role.[21][22]

Personal life

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Dean was engaged to fellow South African actor and model Luke Volker, whom she had been dating since 2018.[5][13][12]

Death

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On 29 August 2022, Dean was admitted to a hospital in New York City after feeling unwell.[23] While her initial symptoms were mild, her condition deteriorated rapidly and she died several hours later; she was 32.[3][23][12] Autopsy results released on 21 December 2022 confirmed the actress died of bacterial sepsis, which was caused by Capnocytophaga.[23] Her spleen had been removed after a car crash in 2008, which increased her risk of serious infections.[23][24] Dean's death occurred shortly before the international release of Triangle of Sadness.[12] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that she "was a true star-in-the-making. Her loss is a huge one... [she] had a singular style and enormous promise".[25] Despite appearing in a lead role of an Academy Award Best Picture nominee at the 2023 Oscar ceremony, Dean was not included in that same ceremony's "In Memoriam" tribute.[26]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes Ref.
2010 Spud Amanda Comedy [27]
2012 Illusive Fields Nadia Short film [28][17]
2013 Death Race 3: Inferno Calimity J Action/Crime/Sci-Fi [29]
Spud 2: The Madness Continues Amanda Comedy [30]
2016 Blood in the Water Pheebee Crime/Mystery/Thriller [31]
2017 Don't Sleep Shawn Edmon Fantasy/Horror/Thriller

Also starring: Jill Hennessy, Alex Carter, Cary Elwes, Alex Rocco

[29]
2018 An Interview with God Grace Drama/Mystery

Directed by Perry Lang

[29]
Porthole Jennifer / Kassidy Kubrick Comedy/Drama/Romance

Directed by Mark A. Altman

[32]
2022 Triangle of Sadness Yaya Posthumous release [12]

Television

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Year TV Series Role Notes Ref.
2017 Elementary Beautiful Woman Episode: "High Heat" [17]
2018 Black Lightning Syonide Recurring role, 9 episodes [17]

References

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  1. ^ "An Interview With God: Charlbi Dean Interview". An Interview with God. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Like It's '98 with Charlbi Dean Kriek". Marie Claire South Africa. June 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b Evans, Greg; Pedersen, Erik (30 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean Dies: 'Triangle Of Sadness' Actor Was 32". Deadline. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  4. ^ Dillon, Nancy (31 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean, Breakout Star of Palme d'Or-Winning 'Triangle of Sadness,' Dead at 32". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Ugwu, Reggie (31 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean, Star of Top Winner at Cannes, Dies at 32". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  6. ^ McKay, Bronwyn (31 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean's family pay tribute to the up-and-coming star: 'We love you forever and always'". Channel24. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b Evans, Sally; Kamaldien, Yazeed (8 October 2008). "Top SA model in horror crash". The Times. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  8. ^ Sinkins, Estelle (12 March 2010). "'Spud' screen queens: meet the women who dominate here's love life". The Witness. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  9. ^ Shiffman, Allyson (27 May 2022). "'Triangle of Sadness' star Charlbi Dean has that from-the-inside-out radiance of a 1990s supermodel". Vogue Scandinavia. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Charlbi Dean Kriek – Interview #3". Justin Polkey. June 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  11. ^ Brown, Emma (19 September 2013). "Gloves Off". Interview Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e Horton, Adrian (30 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean, model and Triangle of Sadness actor, dies aged 32". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Local star Charlbi Dean Kriek has sadly passed away". Cape Town Etc. 30 August 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Spud: The Movie – three talented local actors to bring Eve, Amanda and Christine to life on screen". Media Update. 11 March 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Una entrevista con Dios. No ganará premios, pero..." es.aleteia.org (in Spanish). 10 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  16. ^ Filmstarts. "Filmografie von Charlbi Dean Kriek". FILMSTARTS.de (in German). Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d Freitag, Lee (30 August 2022). "Black Lightning Star Charlbi Dean Dies at 32". CBR. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  18. ^ "'Black Lightning': Who Dies in the Season 2 Premiere?". DC. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  19. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (4 February 2020). "'Triangle Of Sadness': Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean & Woody Harrelson Lead Satire From Palme D'Or Winner Ruben Ostlund; Imperative, 30WEST, More Join". Deadline. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  20. ^ Frank, Jason P. (30 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean, Star of Palme d'Or Winner Triangle of Sadness, Dead at 32". Vulture. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  21. ^ ""Triangle of Sadness", Reviewed: We're on a Yacht and We're Puking". The New Yorker. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Charlbi Dean was a true star-in-the-making. Her loss is a huge one". the Guardian. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  23. ^ a b c d Dillon, Nancy (1 September 2022). "Charlbi Dean's Brother Recalls 'Extremely Loving' Actress, Shoots Down 'Ridiculous' Antivax Theory". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Spleen problems and spleen removal". National Health Service. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  25. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (30 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean was a true star-in-the-making. Her loss is a huge one". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  26. ^ Juneau, Jen (12 March 2023). "Charlbi Dean and Anne Heche Left Out of In Memoriam at Oscars 2023". People. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Actress Charlbi Dean dies". uk.sports.yahoo.com. 30 August 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  28. ^ "Illusive Fields". Berlinale Talents. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  29. ^ a b c Johnson, Alan (31 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean's trainer says star was 'happy and healthy' in days before death". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  30. ^ "Charlbi Dean, 'Triangle of Sadness' and 'Black Lightning' actor, dies at 32". NBC News. 30 August 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  31. ^ "South African actress Charlbi Dean dies aged 32". France 24. 30 August 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  32. ^ Barnes, Mike (30 August 2022). "Charlbi Dean, Actress in 'Triangle of Sadness' and 'Black Lightning,' Dies at 32". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
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