Charlbi Dean Kriek (/ˈʃɑːrlbi/SHARL-bee;[1] 5 February 1990 – 29 August 2022) was a South African model and actress.[2] She was best known for her roles in the Spud films (2010–2013), the superhero drama series Black Lightning (2018) and the Palme d'Or-winning dark comedy Triangle of Sadness (2022).
Early life and career
Dean was born on 5 February 1990[3][4] to Joanne Muller and Johan Kriek. She had a brother.[5][6] 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.[7] She attended Waterfront Theatre School in her hometown of Cape Town,[8][9] traveling widely for her career.[10][11]
In October 2008, Dean and fellow model Ashton Schnehage survived a car crash. Her injuries included a broken wrist, four broken ribs, and a collapsed lung.[12] She was hospitalised at Milnerton Medi-Clinic and received life-saving surgery.[7][13] She took a break from her career after the accident.[14]
Dean was engaged to fellow South African actor and model Luke Volker, whom she had been dating since 2018.[5][13][12]
Death
On 29 August 2022, Dean was admitted to a hospital in New York City after feeling unwell.[23] While her initial symptoms were mild, her condition deteriorated rapidly and she died several hours later; she was 32.[3][23][12] Autopsy results released on 21 December 2022 confirmed the actress died of bacterial sepsis, which was caused by Capnocytophaga.[23] Her spleen had been removed after a car crash in 2008, which increased her risk of serious infections.[23][24] Dean's death occurred shortly before the international release of Triangle of Sadness.[12]Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that she "was a true star-in-the-making. Her loss is a huge one... [she] had a singular style and enormous promise".[25] Despite appearing in a lead role of an Academy Award Best Picture nominee at the 2023 Oscar ceremony, Dean was not included in that same ceremony's "In Memoriam" tribute.[26]
^ abEvans, Sally; Kamaldien, Yazeed (8 October 2008). "Top SA model in horror crash". The Times. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.