2 months ago
22
Filmmaker and producer, Lennie Little-White, has hailed celebrated actor Munair Zacca as “unique and special” while acknowledging that his passing signifies the end of an era.
The two worked together for more than 20 years on the made-for-television hit series Royal Palm Estate, in which Zacca portrayed the larger-than-life Sonny T, perhaps his most memorable role.
“We had a very long, professional relationship, but we knew each other from in the ‘60s because we both attended Jamaica College,” Little-White told The Gleaner.
“Munair straddles all genres – theatre, film television and he also did commercials for television. He was a versatile actor and what made Munair unique was that he did method acting. With each role he assumed the mannerism of the character he was playing. He zoned out everything else and became that person,” said Little-White, who also directed Zacca in the movie Glory to Glorianna.
Little-White said that the last time he saw Zacca was in July last year at a funeral, “but we were in touch through WhatsApp”.
“Oh yes…we shared many jokes,” Little-White said with a chuckle.
On a more serious note, he spoke about a comment which an acquaintance made to him on learning of Zacca’s passing on Wednesday.
“The person said ‘All of the brown skin and white man dem in theatre dead now’. I never thought of it that way. But it’s true,” he said, sounding concerned.
“If we were casting a new series today and needed that Arab, white-looking actor … the Reggie Carter type … who could we use?” Little-White said.
Elaborating on exactly what made Munair Zacca special, Little-White pointed out that the legendary actor played the roles of god and a shotta with equal conviction and intensity.
“Munair also did a lot of historical plays. He could be the governor general, the plantation owner or the shopkeeper. Right now, I don’t see anybody with that kind of flexibility. The Munair and the Reggie Carter types just aren’t here any more,” he said.
Zacca, 79, passed away on Wednesday after ailing for some time. A diabetic, he also had lung disorder. His widow, Adelina Pedroza-Zacca, told The Gleaner that the former head of CPTC and one of the pillars of the Barn Theatre missed, more than anything else, being in theatre.
“Theatre was his life and when he didn’t do it any more it was because he couldn’t. But he always did a very good show,” Adelina said.
An award-winning actor, Zacca starred in movies such as Countryman (1982); Passion and Paradise (1989); Shottas (2002); Better Mus’ Come (2011); Kingston Paradise (2013); and Destiny (2014). Among the numerous stage productions he was involved in were Anansi and Unsung Heroes Heroes out West; Lotto Money; and Art, for which he won Best Supporting Actor at the 2008 Actor Boy Awards.
In 2023/24 Zacca was inducted into the Jollywood Jamaica Hall of Fame, in celebration of “his extraordinary contributions to Brand Jamaica”.
Jollywood Jamaica in a tribute stated that “His hand and footprint imprint, housed at the Planet Jollywood Museum in Kingston, Jamaica, stands as an everlasting tribute to his legacy, preserving his aura for generations to come. Sonny T showed unwavering love and support for Jollywood Jamaica from the very beginning and continued to be an integral part of our journey throughout the years. His immense talent, warm spirit, and dedication to the arts left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew him.”
English (US) ·