Tongayi Chirisa - Biography, Career and Films

Tongayi Arnold Chirisa is a Zimbabwean actor and singer recognized for his roles as Man Friday on NBC's "Crusoe" television series, Father Nicholas on "The Jim Gaffigan Show," Hekule in Leon Schuster's "Mr. Bones 2: Back from the Past," and Cheetor in "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts."

Early Life

Arnold Chirisa was born on August 8th, 1981 in Harare, Zimbabwe. He attended Lomagundi College before moving to South Africa. While in South Africa, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree at The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA). Currently 43 years old, Tongayi Chirisa continues to impress as he matures gracefully.

Personal Life

In late 2018, images of Arnold Chirisa and Ericka Guitron, a pop artist and actress, became widely circulated on the internet. The celebrity couple openly shared affectionate moments on their social media profiles. However, they eventually parted ways, and any traces of their romance have since been removed from their respective pages. Currently, there is no information available regarding Arnold's current dating status or whether he has returned to the dating scene.

Career

In 2003, Tongayi Chirisa gained prominence for his role as Detective Trevor Davies in the popular Zimbabwean television series Studio 263, where he remained until 2005. His performance in the 2004 film Tanyaradzwa earned him the Best Actor for Film and Television Award. Additionally, he starred in the radio drama Mopani Junction, which was discontinued during Zimbabwe's political turmoil. Subsequently, he appeared in films like Blood Covenant, Evil in Our Midst, and Cousin Brother.

In 2006, seeking to advance his career, Chirisa relocated to South Africa, where he secured roles in productions such as Robinson, Skin, Diamonds, and Mrs. Mandela. He notably landed the role of Hekule The King of Kuvikiland in Leon Schuster's comedy film, Mr. Bones 2: Back from The Past, despite initial concerns about his physique, which he overcame through dedicated gym sessions.

Chirisa made appearances in the mini-series Rough, directed by Andy Wilson, and in the international feature film Skin, alongside Sam Neill. He also starred in the local drama series Redemption for SABC 1. In 2009, he ventured to Hollywood, where he secured roles in major movies and TV shows.

His international credits include portraying Man Friday in NBC's Crusoe, based on Robinson Crusoe, and appearing in Sleepy Hollow, inspired by Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He played Father Nicholas in The Jim Gaffigan Show (2017) and portrayed the Maximal Cheetor in the film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023).

Aside from acting, Chirisa has ventured into music, releasing the music video for "Usacheme" on September 22, 2017. Directed by Zimbabwean director Joe Njagu, the song features Tamy and carries a message that translates to "don't cry" in English (Usacheme in Shona).

Throughout his career, Chirisa has garnered numerous nominations and awards, including multiple NAMA Awards and recognition at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards in 2017 as a nominee in the Actor in a Drama category.

Filmography

Movies

2005 Tanyaradzwa

2008 Ace of Hearts

2008 Zimbabwe

2008 Skin

2008 Mr. Bones 2: Back from the Past

2009 Gargoyle

2011 Geezas

2013 Stand By

2014 Whipping Boy

2016 Happiness Is a Four-letter Word

2017 The Zim

2020 Palm Springs

2020 Antebellum

2022 Next Exit

2023 Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

Television Series

2002-2004 Studio 263

2008–2009 Crusoe

2009 Diamonds

2010 Mrs Mandela

2010 Barack Obama's Cousin

2011 NCIS: Los Angeles

2012 American Horror Story: Asylum

2012 H+: The Digital Series

2013 Sleepy Hollow

2013 Gaffigan

2015 Whitney

2015–16 The Jim Gaffigan Show

2016 Mars Project

2017–2019 iZombie

2018 Hawaii Five-0

2018 The Guest Book

2020 The Good Doctor

2021 Another Life

2022 Women of the Movement

2023 - present Mayfair Witches

Video Games

2024 Assassin's Creed Shadows