Gyearbuor Asante

(Redirected from Christopher Asante)

Frederick Christopher Kwabena Gyearbuor Asante Erskine (4 November 1941 – 2 August 2000) was a Ghanaian actor best remembered for his role in the Channel 4 situation comedy Desmond's, in which he played the role of Gambian mature student Matthew.[1]

Gyearbuor Asante
Born
Frederick Christopher Kwabena Gyearbuor Asante Erskine

(1941-11-04)4 November 1941
Accra, Ghana
Died2 August 2000(2000-08-02) (aged 58)
Accra, Ghana
NationalityGhanaian
CitizenshipGhanaian
Alma materMountain Academy of Theatre arts
OccupationActor
Known forHazell, The Professionals, Ubu Roi, Local Hero, Desmond's

Life and career

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Born in Accra, Asante moved to the United Kingdom in 1967 and trained to be an actor at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. A "Gyearbuor Asante Prize for Acting" was subsequently instituted at the academy following his death.[2] He appeared in a number of British TV shows during the 1970s and '80s, where he was billed as Christopher Asante. His credits included episodes of Space: 1999, Mind Your Language, Hazell and The Professionals as well as a TV performance of Ubu Roi in 1976. He also played the minister in the 1983 film Local Hero.[3]

He came from a long line of chiefs of his hometown Kwahu Tafo but ruled himself out of carrying on the tradition in favour of pursuing a career in acting; the chieftaincy Asante was offered was taken up by his friend, television producer Humphrey Barclay.[4]

He returned to his birthplace Ghana in 1995 where he was made a Cultural Ambassador. He died in the capital city of Accra with his funeral held in his ancestral village of Tafo Kwahu in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[5]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ Horace Newcomb, Encyclopedia of Television, Routledge, 2014, p. 690.
  2. ^ "Gyearbuor Asante Prize for Acting". Mountview.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  3. ^ "Gyearbuor Asante". BFI. Archived from the original on 2012-08-04. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  4. ^ "Desmond's star leaves a lasting legacy in Ghana". Archived from the original on 12 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  5. ^ Jason Deans (2003-01-05). "Comic Hero". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  6. ^ Canby, Vincent (1981-02-13). "'Dogs of War,' Forsyth's Mercenaries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
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