{{Short description|South African actor (born 1970)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use South African English|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1970}} | birth_place = Diepkloof, South Africa | education = | other_names = Obed Baloi | alma_mater = | occupation = | children = 4 | awards = SAFTA | years_active = 1996–present }}

'''Obed Baloyi''' (born 1970) is a South African actor and playwright. He won a SAFTA for his performance as TsuTsuma in the sitcom ''Ga Re Dumele'' (2010–2019).

==Early life== Baloyi is from Diepkloof, Gauteng. He speaks Xitsonga natively as well as English, Zulu, and SeSotho. He attended Shingwezi High School in Malamulele where he first participated in drama productions. He helped out with his mother's food vending growing up. He joined the Melaisizwe theatre group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/drum/Archive/obed-baloyi-speaks-about-being-a-street-vendour-and-becoming-an-actor-20170728|title=Obed Baloyi speaks about being a street vendour and becoming an actor|journal=Drum|date=16 September 2016|accessdate=24 August 2021}}</ref> Upon returning to Johannesburg, Baloyi took acting classes at the Donaldson Orlando Cultural Club (DOCC) under the mentorship of actors such as Darlington Michaels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2022-09-02-safta-award-as-good-as-in-the-bag-for-baloyi/|title=Safta award as good as in the bag for Baloyi|journal=Sowetan Live|first=Patience|last=Bambalele|date=2 September 2022|accessdate=12 September 2022}}</ref>

==Career== In 1996, Baloyi formed the Mangava Drama Group. He wrote the play ''Ga-Mchangani'', which was staged at the Market Theatre and then the Zwakala Festival. His next play ''Via Soweto'' premiered at the 1999 Barney Simon Young Directors and Playwrights Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://okmzansi.co.za/5-interesting-facts-to-know-about-diepcitys-obed-baloyi/|title=5 Interesting Facts To Know About DiepCity's Obed Baloyi|journal=OkMzansi|accessdate=19 August 2021}}</ref>

Baloyi turned his focus towards the screen in 2000, making his television debut in the second season of the educational youth show ''Soul Buddyz''. He returned for its fourth season as well, this time playing Prins. He appeared in season 2 of ''A Place Called Home''. He made his feature film debut in ''Triomf'' (2008), an adaptation of the 1994 novel by Marlene van Niekerk.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 2010, Baloyi landed the role of TsuTsuma in ''Ga Re Dumele'', a role he would play for all six seasons of the sitcom. For his performance, Baloyi was nominated twice for Best Actor in a TV Comedy at the South African Film and Television Awards, winning his latter nomination in 2014.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Baloyi starred in the first season of ''Giyani: Land of Blood'' on SABC 2 and returned for its second season, this time in a recurring role. From 2021 to 2022, Baloyi was in the main cast of the Mzansi Magic crime drama ''DiepCity'' as Ringo. For its second and final season, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela at the SAFTAs that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/news/play-very-far-from-her-diepcitys-ringo-warns-men-to-lay-off-his-khelina-20210726|title='Play very far from her' – DiepCity's Ringo warns men to lay off his Khelina|journal=Drum|first=Bonolo|last=Sekudu|date=26 July 2021|accessdate=24 August 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life== Baloyi has four children. He is a member of the Zion Christian Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysun.co.za/News/Entertainment/from-poor-street-vendor-to-actor-20160826|title=From poor street vendor to actor!|journal=Daily Sun|first=Kgomotso|last=Moganed|date=16 August 2016|accessdate=24 August 2021}}</ref>

==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable unsortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2008 | ''Triomf'' | Sonny | |- | 2010 | ''Jozi'' | Jao | |- | 2013 | ''Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom'' | Client | |- | 2016 | ''The Last Face'' | Atif | |- |2024 |''Lobola Man'' |Uncle Long John | |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable unsortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2002–2003; 2007 | ''Soul Buddyz'' | Joe / Prins | Season 2, 4 |- | 2004 | ''Yizo Yizo'' | Zwepe | Season 3 |- | rowspan="2" | 2005 | ''Scandal!'' | Ezra | |- | ''Mzee wa Two Six'' | Friend | Guest role |- | rowspan="2" | 2006 | ''Izoso Connexion'' | Chip Robber | Guest role |- | ''Heartlines'' | Captain Hlatswayo | Anthology |- | 2007–2010 | ''Nomzamo'' | Mzizi | Seasons 2–3 |- | 2008 | ''A Place Called Home'' | Blues | Season 2 |- | 2009 | ''The Philanthropist'' | Native Man | Pilot |- | 2010–2019 | ''Ga Re Dumele'' | Tsutsuma | Main role |- | rowspan="2" | 2011 | ''Laugh Out Loud'' | Mashangane | |- | ''Sokhulu & Partners'' | Sergeant | Season 2 |- | rowspan="2" | 2015 | ''Majakathata'' | Dzunisani | Season 2 |- | ''eKasi: Our Stories'' | Sobantu | Season 6 |- | 2015–2016 | ''High Rollers'' | Khan | |- | rowspan="2" | 2018 | ''Liberty'' | Morgan | Miniseries |- | ''Isibaya'' | Mkongwane | Season 6 |- | 2019–2021 | ''Giyani: Land of Blood'' | Hlengani Joseph Chavalala | Main role (season 1)<br>Recurring role (season 2)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-04-12-00-giyani-translates-to-viewers/|title='Giyani' translates to viewers|journal=Mail & Guardian|first=Zaza|last=Hlalethwa|date=12 April 2019|accessdate=24 August 2021}}</ref> |- | 2021– 2023 | ''DiepCity'' | Ringo | Main role (season 1 - 2) |}

==Stage== ===Writing credits=== * ''Ga Mchangani'' (1996) * ''Via Soweto'' (1999)

==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Ref. |- | 2012 | rowspan="3" | South African Film and Television Awards | rowspan="2" | Best Actor in a TV Comedy | rowspan="2" | ''Ga Re Dumele'' | {{nom}} | |- | 2014 | {{won}} | |- | 2022 | Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela | ''DiepCity'' | {{nom}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/channel/tv/news/from-the-wife-to-talis-baby-diary-all-the-2022-saftas-nominations-20220714-2|title=From The Wife to Tali's Baby Diary - All the 2022 Saftas nominations|journal=Channel24|first=Thinus|last=Ferreira|date=14 July 2022|accessdate=16 July 2022}}</ref> |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|2345378}} * [https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=9080 Obed Baloyi] at TVSA

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baloyi, Obed}} Category:Living people Category:1970 births Category:20th-century South African writers Category:South African male soap opera actors Category:South African male stage actors Category:Actors from Soweto Category:Tsonga people