{{Short description|Kenyan actor (1986–2024)}} {{Tone|date=September 2025}} <!-- Important, do not remove anything above this line before article has been created. -->{{Infobox person | name = Charles Ouda | birth_name = Charles Joseph Onyango Ouda | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1985|07|03}} | birth_place = Nairobi, Kenya | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|2|3|1985|6|3|df=yes}} | death_place = Nairobi, Kenya | burial_place = Kariokor Cemetery | citizenship = Kenyan | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|TV host|Producer|Director|Singer|TV host|Voice overt artist}} | years_active = 2002 - 2024 }}
'''Charles '''"'''Charlie'''"''' J. Ouda''' (July 3, 1985 – February 3, 2024) was a Kenyan actor, writer, director, television host, voice-over artist, singer, and events manager. He died on 3 February 2024 in Nairobi at the age of 38.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-05 |title=Actor Charles Ouda dies aged 38 |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/showbiz/actor-charles-ouda-dies-aged-38-4513888 |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=Daily Nation |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Ouda began his professional career in the arts as early as 2002.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=From Makutano Junction to Salem: Who is late actor Charles Ouda |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sports/basketball/2024-02-04-from-makutano-junction-to-salem-who-is-late-actor-charles-ouda |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref> In 2014, he moved to New York to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, undertaking a two-year conservatory program. There he trained alongside established industry figures such as Mauricio Bustamante and Paul Calderón.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Okuna |first=Munde |title=Charles J Ouda takes a bite of the big apple |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/my-man/article/2001235556/charles-j-ouda-takes-a-bite-of-the-big-apple |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Evewoman Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Theatre and stage === Ouda's first known stage appearance was in the musical ''Lwanda: Man of Stone'' at the Kenya National Theatre.<ref name=":0" /> Over his career, he performed in at least 15 plays and seven musicals, leading in roles such as Joseph in ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'', Tony in ''Boy Gets Girl'', Fick in ''Balm in Gilead'', Mr. Black in ''Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party'', and Ernest Everhard in ''The Iron Heel''. His theatre work included performances in New York.<ref name=":0" />
=== Television and film === On television, Ouda performed on ''Makutano Junction''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=Letter to Charles Ouda from his fellow Makutano Junction TV family |url=https://nairobinews.nation.africa/letter-to-charles-ouda-from-his-fellow-makutano-junction-tv-family/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Nairobi News |language=en-US}}</ref> for over twelve seasons. His other screen credits included ''Better Days'', ''Changing Times'', ''Higher Learning'', ''Changes'', ''Mali'', ''Second Family'', ''Pepeta'', ''Crime and Justice'' on Showmax, in which he played Kenneth Mumbi, and ''Salem'' on Maisha Magic, where he played Mel.
He also hosted and wrote for the educational children's show ''The Know Zone'' <ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-21 |title=An actor of all seasons |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/buzz/an-actor-of-all-seasons-637334 |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Daily Nation |language=en}}</ref> and co-hosted the youth program ''Discovery +254'' alongside Sarah Hassan, winning the Kalasha Award for Best TV Host in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-04 |title=RIP: 10 Insights into the legacy of actor Charles Ouda in Kenyan Entertainment |url=https://nairobinews.nation.africa/rip-10-insights-into-the-legacy-of-actor-charles-ouda-in-kenyan-entertainment/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Nairobi News |language=en-US}}</ref> He further appeared as a coach on ''Tusker Project Fame''.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Okuna |first=Munde |title=Charles J Ouda takes a bite of the big apple |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/my-man/article/2001235556/charles-j-ouda-takes-a-bite-of-the-big-apple |access-date=2025-09-08 |website=Evewoman Magazine |language=en}}</ref> His film credits include ''The First Grader'', ''Sienna’s Choice'', ''MAD'', and ''Count It Out.''
Beyond acting, Ouda was also an accomplished director and writer. His short film ''Who Are You?'' earned him the Best Director award at the 2016 Asian American Film Lab 72-Hour Shoot Out, while ''Waiting Room'' and ''Count It Out'' received Merit and Platinum Awards at the NYC Indie Film Awards and the Best Shorts Competition . In music, he co-wrote the song ''Fire in Your Kiss'' for the Coca-Cola PopStars group SEMA and released his own single ''Superstar'', featuring Dan Aceda.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-05 |title=Take 5 with Charles Ouda |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/mynetwork/take-5-with-charles-ouda-80120 |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Daily Nation |language=en}}</ref>
== Filmography == {{unreferenced section|date=September 2025}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |2007 - 2013 |''Makutano Junction'' |Pipi |Cast, Writer |- |2018 |''Sidney & Friends'' |Sidney's father |Voice |- |2011–2015 |''Mali'' | |Writer |- |2024 |''Panda Bear in Africa'' |Abu, Mr Python, Jackal 3 |Voice |- |2011 |Aphrodite | |Writer, Director |- |2016 |Them | |Director |- |2017 |Count It Out |The Man |Cast, Director, Writer |- |2017 |Bench | |Director |- |2018 |Waiting Room |Dr Desmonds |Cast, Director, Writer |- |2016 |Who are You | |Director |- |2010 |The First Grader |School teacher |Cast |- |2016 |Mad |Angry Man |Cast |- |2016 |Sienna's Choice |Dr Salvatore |Cast |- |2022 - 2024 |Salem |Mel Karani |Cast |- |2021 |Real |Bruce |Cast |- |2023 |Pepeta |Pathologist 1 |Cast |- |2023 |Twende |Kimbe, Sugu, Crowd Extra 2 |Voice |- |2022 |Crime and Justice |Kenneth Mumbi |Cast |- |2021 |Exposure 36 |Cam |Cast |- |2019 |For the Benefit of Mr. Winston |Samuel Konde |Cast |}
== Nominations and awards == {{unreferenced section|date=September 2025}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Award !Category !Show !Result |- |2016 |Hudson Valley International Film Festival |Best Ensemble cast |''Sienna's Choice'' |{{Nominated}} |- |2017 |NYC Indie Film Awards |Best Directory - Gold Award |''Waiting Room'' |{{Won}} |- |2017 |NYC Indie Film Awards |Best Short Film - Platinum Award |''Count It Out'' |{{Nominated}} |- |2017 |LA Shorts Award |Best Trailer - Diamond Award |''Waiting Room'' |{{Won}} |- |2017 |Best Shorts Competition |Film Short - Award Merit |''Count It Out'' |{{Won}} |- |2017 |Best Shorts Competition |Short Film - Award Merit |''Count It Out'' |{{Won}} |- |2017 |Best Shorts Competition |Short Film - Award Merit |''Waiting Room'' |{{Won}} |- |2024 |Kalasha International Film and TV Awards |Best Lead Actor in TV Drama |''Salem'' |{{Won}} |- |2015 |Kalasha International Film and TV Awards |Best host in TV Show |''Discovery 254+'' |{{Won}} |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{IMDb name|nm3956459}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ouda, Charles}} Category:Kenyan television personalities Category:Kenyan male film actors Category:Kenyan male television actors Category:1986 births Category:2024 deaths Category:Male actors from Nairobi Category:Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute alumni {{Improve categories|date=September 2025}}
{{Kenya-actor-stub}} Category:Kalasha Awards winners