Charlbi Dean

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

Early life and career Dean was born on 5 February 1990 to Joanne Muller and Johan Kriek. She had a brother. 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. traveling widely for her career.

In October 2008, Dean and another model survived a car crash. Her injuries included a broken wrist, four broken ribs, and a collapsed lung.

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. Also in 2018, she landed the role of Syonide, a recurring character she played for two seasons of the Arrowverse series Black Lightning. In February 2020, she was cast in a leading role in Ruben Östlund's satirical film Triangle of Sadness, which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and won the Palme d'Or. Her performance in the film received praise from critics, some of whom commented that it could have been her breakout role were it not for her death during the film's release.

Personal life Dean was engaged to fellow South African actor and model Luke Volker, whom she had been dating since 2018.

Death On 29 August 2022, Dean was admitted to a hospital in New York City after feeling unwell. While her initial symptoms were mild, her condition deteriorated rapidly and she died several hours later; she was 32. Dean's death occurred shortly before the international release of Triangle of Sadness.

Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 2010 Spud Amanda Comedy 2012 Illusive Fields Nadia Short film Spud 2: The Madness Continues Amanda Comedy 2016 Blood in the Water Pheebee Crime/mystery/thriller 2017 Don't Sleep Shawn Edmon Fantasy/horror/thrillerAlso starring: Jill Hennessy, Alex Carter, Cary Elwes, Alex Rocco 2022 Triangle of Sadness Yaya Posthumous theatrical release 2018 Black Lightning Syonide Recurring role, 9 episodes