On Sunday, the family of Charles ‘Charlie’ J. Ouda confirmed his death at the age of 38.
“Dear friends and family, it is with great sadness that we share the passing of Charles ‘Charlie’ J.Ouda on the night of February 3, 2024,” the family said in a statement.
Ouda, an actor, writer, director, television host, voice-over artist, and singer, began his career in 2002.
He had credits worldwide, including the first play (Lwanda: Man Stone), which catapulted him to the big screen.
He has appeared in 15 plays and seven musicals, including Boy Gets Girl as Tony, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat as Joseph, Balm in Gilead as Fick, and Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party as Mr. Black.
He also appeared in The Iron Heel as Ernest Everhard and Out of Africa: Journey Through Magical Kenya.
He took part in shows like Makutano Junction, where he starred.
spanning 12 seasons and wrote many episodes for the show.
In 2010, one of the episodes received the World Media Award for Education.
He has also appeared in Better Days, Discovery+254, MAD, Sienna’s Choice (Dr. Salvatore), Count It Out (The Man), and The First Grader.
Discovery +254 earned a Kalasha International Award for Best Television Host, with Ouda co-hosting alongside Sarah Hassan.
Ouda has also appeared in The Know Zone: Changing Times [KTN], Higher Learning, Changes, Mali [NTV], Second Family (Pepeta), Crime and Justice [Showmax] as Kenneth Mumbi, and Salem [Maisha Magic] as Mel.
He formerly worked as a coach at the Tusker Project Fame. He directed episodes of Who Are You? (2016 Asian American Film Lab’s 72-Hour Shoot Out Judges Choice).
The film earned him the Best Director Award at the Film Lab Awards. He also directed and wrote the film Waiting Room.
Ouda completed a two-year conservatory study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York.
He collaborated with individuals such as Mauricio Bustamante (Little Men) and Paul Calderon (Pulp Fiction, Boardwalk Empire).
Throughout his two-decade career, Ouda has collaborated with some talented individuals, including Mkamzee Mwatela, June Gachui, Maqbul Mohamed, Lydia Gitachu, Siyalio, Amileena, Silas Miami, Nick Ndeda, Raymond Ofula, Nick Mutuma, Alison Ngibuini, and Patricia Kihoro.
Overall, he played the lead in eight plays, directed two shows, and presented two cabarets.
In September 2023, he and his fiancée, former BBC presenter Ciru Muruiki, revealed their engagement.
