Directed a production of August Wilson's "Fences" in 1999.
Divorced wife Madelyn in 1978 after 12 years of marriage. They remarried in 1985. They have one daughter, Santlo Chontay Mokae, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
First went to London in 1961 when his country blocked his acting career.
Founded the Black Actors Theater in San Francisco with actor Danny Glover in 1980.
Had no previous acting experience before forming a professional bond with playwright Athol Fugard, who was white.
In 2005, he and his wife returned to the States from Capetown and settled in Las Vegas in order to seek better medical care for his Parkinson's disease.
Started out as a saxophonist with the Trevor Huddleston Jazz Band.
Took up acting after meeting white playwright Athol Fugard and they worked together creating plays.
Was jailed several times as a young man in Johannesburg during the corrosive times of racial separatism in his country.
Won Broadway's 1982 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for his role as Sam in Athol Fugard's "'Master Harold'... and the Boys," a portrayal he recreated in the television version of the same title, 'Master Harold'... and the Boys (1985) (TV). He was also Tony-nominated in the same category in 1993 for "The Song of Jacob Zulu."