John Kani

John Kani, born 30th of November, 1942, in New Brighton, South Africa—yeah, that’s right, he’s been around the block a few times—has lived through some serious history. The guy’s got that kind of face you remember, even if you only saw him for a second on screen. If you dug Black Panther (2018) and thought King T’Chaka had that real, wise-dad energy, well, thank John for that. He’s not just a face though; the man’s a heavyweight in South African theatre, a playwright, and a pretty vocal activist. He didn’t just stroll into Hollywood, either—he carved his lane way before Marvel even thought about Wakanda. Kani’s career started back in the apartheid era. He was part of the legendary duo with Winston Ntshona, and together with Athol Fugard, they cooked up some groundbreaking plays—stuff like “Sizwe Banzi Is Dead” and “The Island”—that went toe-to-toe with the messed-up political system in South Africa. The guy lost an eye in the ‘70s after getting beat up by cops. Didn’t slow him down. He just wore that new look like a badge. You’ve probably caught him in Captain America: Civil War (2016) too, slipping into the same regal shoes, and, if you really dig into his filmography, The Ghost and the Darkness (1996). Honestly, if you want to talk legacy, he’s the blueprint for mixing raw talent with a bit of rebellion. Kani’s voice is so distinctive, you hear it and you know it’s him. From the stage in Jo’burg to the big screens of Hollywood, he’s kept it real—always, unapologetically, John Kani.