Gyearbuor Asante
| Frederick Christopher Kwabena Gyearbuor Asante | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 4, 1941 |
| Died |
August 2, 2000 (aged 58) Accra, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Known for | Matthew in Desmond's |
Frederick Christopher Kwabena Gyearbuor Asante (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]
Life and career
Born in Accra, Asante came 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 film Local Hero.[3]
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.[4]
References
- ↑ Horace Newcomb, Encyclopedia of Television, Routledge, 2014, p. 690
- ↑ "Gyearbuor Asante Prize for Acting". Mountview.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
- ↑ Born: 4 November 1941, AccraDied: 2 August 2000, Accra. "BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
- ↑ Jason Deans (2003-01-05). "'Comic Hero'". Guardian. Retrieved 2014-08-25.