{{Short description|Zimbabwean actor (born 1994)}} {{Infobox person | name = Chrispen Nyathi | image = | caption = Nyathi in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|5|31}} | birth_place = Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2019–present | known_for = Role of Pastor Charleston in ''DiepCity'' }}
'''Chrispen Nyathi''' (born 31 May 1994) is a Zimbabwean actor known for portraying Pastor Charleston Ncube in the South African television drama ''DiepCity''. His performance in the series earned him the Outstanding Supporting Actor Award in 2021, making him one of the rising figures in Southern African television.<ref name="TrueLove">{{cite web|title=Getting to know DiepCity's rising star Chrispen Nyathi|url=https://www.news24.com/truelove/exclusive/getting-to-know-diepcitys-rising-star-chrispen-nyathi-20210923|website=News24 TrueLove|access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Nyathi was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where he attended Mzilikazi Primary School. He developed an interest in the performing arts during his school years. In his teens, Nyathi relocated to South Africa with his family, where he continued to pursue acting through local theatre productions and short films.<ref name="Herald">{{cite web|title=Talent alone is not enough in film industry|url=https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/talent-alone-is-not-enough-in-film-industry/|website=The Herald (Zimbabwe)|access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref>
==Career== Nyathi began his acting career with minor theatre roles before securing his breakthrough in 2021, when he was cast in ''DiepCity'', a television drama produced by [https://www.blackbrain.co.za/? Black Brain Pictures] for Mzansi Magic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mbendeni |first=Alutho |title=RISING STAR {{!}} Chrispen Nyathi on his big dreams and playing Charleston on DiepCity |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/news/rising-star-chrispen-nyathi-on-his-big-dreams-and-playing-charleston-on-diepcity-20210827 |access-date=2025-10-13 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref>
His portrayal of Pastor Charleston, a humorous and faith driven preacher navigating life in a Johannesburg township, received attention audiences and critics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Online |date=2025-09-27 |title=Actor Chrispen Nyathi slammed for bragging about work |url=https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/actor-chrispen-nyathi-slammed-for-bragging-about-work/ |access-date=2025-10-13 |website=herald |language=en-US}}</ref> The role earned him widespread recognition and a major award at the [https://www.kaya959.co.za/all-the-winners-from-the-2021-royalty-soapie-awards/? Royalty Soapie Awards] in 2021.<ref name="263Chat">{{cite web|title=Zim actor Chrispen Nyathi wins Outstanding Supporting Actor award|url=https://www.facebook.com/263Chat/videos/over-the-weekend-zimbabwean-actor-chrispen-nyathi-won-the-outstanding-supporting/1211581563252629/|website=263Chat|access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref>
In 2023, Nyathi expressed pride in returning to Zimbabwe for the first time in over a decade, describing it as “an emotional homecoming” after years of working in South Africa.<ref name="SA">{{cite web|title=Chrispen Nyathi returns home after 11 years|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/zimbabwe/chrispen-nyathi-makes-emotional-return-to-zimbabwe-after-11-years/|website=The South African|access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref> He continues to work on independent productions and film projects across the region.
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 2021–2023 || ''DiepCity'' || Pastor Charleston Ncube || Television drama series |- |2024 - 2025 |''Isiphetho - Destiny'' | | |- | 2025 (upcoming) || ''Rise'' || Lead role || Feature film; selected for screening at the Tribeca Film Festival<ref name="Tribeca">{{cite web|title=Rise (2025)|url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/rise-2025|website=Tribeca Film Festival|access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref> |}
==Awards and recognition== * Outstanding Supporting Actor – [https://www.kaya959.co.za/all-the-winners-from-the-2021-royalty-soapie-awards/? Royalty Soapie Awards] (2021)<ref name="263Chat" /> * Nominee – Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (2022)<ref name="Goodinfo">{{cite web|title=Chrispen Nyathi Biography|url=https://goodinfo.com.ng/chrispen-nyathi-biography/|website=Goodinfo|access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref> * Featured performer – ''Rise'' selected at Tribeca Film Festival (2025)<ref name="Tribeca" />
==Personal life== Nyathi has stated that his upbringing in Bulawayo shaped his discipline and motivation. He continues to speaks publicly about the importance of Zimbabwean representation in regional media and has expressed interest in writing and producing in the future.<ref name="DailySun">{{cite web|title=Chrispen Nyathi from DiepCity pastor to award-winning actor|url=https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/celebs/chrispen-nyathi-from-diepcity-pastor-to-award-winning-actor-20240815|website=Daily Sun|access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref>
==References== <references />
==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com IMDb – Chrispen Nyathi profile]
==Categories==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nyathi, Chrispen}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Zimbabwean male television actors Category:Zimbabwean film actors Category:21st-century Zimbabwean male actors Category:People from Bulawayo Category:Zimbabwean expatriates in South Africa