by Thinus Ferreira
The versatile South African actor and producer James Alexander, also known as James Gracie, has died at age 45 after losing his battle on Friday with head and neck cancer.
James Alexander was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in January 2019 but the couple decided to keep his cancer fight private. The couple who left South Africa in 2016 returned to the country last year after living in Los Angeles and working in Hollywood for five years.
His wife, Anel Alexander, revealed the death of her husband on Facebook on Saturday morning.
"To say my heart is broken would not do justice to the 22 years we spent together. This year I've crossed a rubicon: I've spent more of my life with you, than without."
"I can not imagine having to do life without you by my side. You were my first love, my best friend, my work-buddy, travel-buddy, there's-something-in-your-teeth-buddy. The first person to break my heart and then mend it again. The only person to witness me, all of me: the good, the bad, the pyjamas…."
"You were magic, a unicorn, and everybody knew it. You loved people and they loved you. And oh, how you made us laugh! You haven't just fought a good fight, my baby, you fought the best fight."
"I have never witnessed anybody endure the amount of physical pain and losses and disappointments you have had to over the last 5 years and do it with such grace and integrity, whilst all the time fiercely believing and surrendering to God's plan. You finished the race well, the suffering is over. Now Rest In Peace, my Jamie. Cancer might have won the battle for your body, but your soul was never beaten. I will always love you xxx".
James Alexander was best known for his role as Dr Rico Maartens in the M-Net and kykNET (DStv 144) Afrikaans soap Binnelanders and also snagged the role of Tristan in M-Net's The Wild prime time soap.
He's worked in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States over the past 15 years.
He was the co-presenter of the M-Net reality competition show Project Fame in 2004 and appeared in SABC1's Generations, SABC2's Home Affairs and in the short films Thoughts, Lost and Voëltjie.
He appeared in the third season of the American series Black Sails, Donkerland, Geraamtes in die Kas, Heartlines, Madiba, Roots, The Book of Negroes, and as Lemmer in M-Net's Trackers.
