Charles "Charlie" J. Ouda (July 3, 1985 – February 3, 2024) was a Kenyan actor, writer, director, television host, voice-over artist, singer, and events manager. He died on 3 February 2024 in Nairobi at the age of 38.
Early life and education Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Ouda began his professional career in the arts as early as 2002. In 2014, he moved to New York to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, undertaking a two-year conservatory program. There he trained alongside established industry figures such as Mauricio Bustamante and Paul Calderón.
Career
Theatre and stage Ouda's first known stage appearance was in the musical Lwanda: Man of Stone at the Kenya National Theatre. Over his career, he performed in at least 15 plays and seven musicals, leading in roles such as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tony in Boy Gets Girl, Fick in Balm in Gilead, Mr. Black in Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party, Ernest Everhard in The Iron Heel, and his Kenya Theatre Awards-winning performance in the African debut of The Manic Monologues. His theatre work included performances in New York.
Television and film On television, Ouda performed on Makutano Junction for over twelve seasons. His other screen credits included Better Days, Changing Times, Higher Learning, Changes, Mali, Second Family, Pepeta, Crime and Justice on Showmax, in which he played Kenneth Mumbi, and Salem on Maisha Magic, where he played Mel.
He also hosted and wrote for the educational children's show The Know Zone and co-hosted the youth program Discovery +254 alongside Sarah Hassan, winning the Kalasha Award for Best TV Host in 2015. He further appeared as a coach on Tusker Project Fame. His film credits include The First Grader, Sienna’s Choice, MAD, and Count It Out.
Beyond acting, Ouda was also an accomplished director and writer. His short film Who Are You? earned him the Best Director award at the 2016 Asian American Film Lab 72-Hour Shoot Out, while Waiting Room and Count It Out received Merit and Platinum Awards at the NYC Indie Film Awards and the Best Shorts Competition . In music, he co-wrote the song Fire in Your Kiss for the Coca-Cola PopStars group SEMA and released his own single Superstar, featuring Dan Aceda.
Filmography
+YearTitleRoleNotes2007 - 2013Makutano JunctionPipiCast, Writer2018Sidney & FriendsSidney's fatherVoice2011–2015MaliWriter2024Panda Bear in AfricaAbu, Mr Python, Jackal 3Voice2011AphroditeWriter, Director2016ThemDirector2017Count It OutThe ManCast, Director, Writer2017BenchDirector2018Waiting RoomDr DesmondsCast, Director, Writer2016Who are YouDirector2010The First GraderSchool teacherCast2016MadAngry ManCast2016Sienna's ChoiceDr SalvatoreCast2022 - 2024SalemMel KaraniCast2021RealBruceCast2023PepetaPathologist 1Cast2023TwendeKimbe, Sugu, Crowd Extra 2Voice2022Crime and JusticeKenneth MumbiCast2021Exposure 36CamCast2019For the Benefit of Mr. WinstonSamuel KondeCast
Nominations and awards
+YearAwardCategoryShowResult2016Hudson Valley International Film FestivalBest Ensemble castSienna's Choice2017NYC Indie Film AwardsBest Directory - Gold AwardWaiting Room2017NYC Indie Film AwardsBest Short Film - Platinum AwardCount It Out2017LA Shorts AwardBest Trailer - Diamond AwardWaiting Room2017Best Shorts CompetitionFilm Short - Award MeritCount It Out2017Best Shorts CompetitionShort Film - Award MeritCount It Out2017Best Shorts CompetitionShort Film - Award MeritWaiting Room2022Kenya Theatre AwardsBest Performance by a Male ActorThe Manic Monologues2024Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest Lead Actor in TV DramaSalem2015Kalasha International Film and TV AwardsBest host in TV ShowDiscovery 254+
References
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