As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the cinematic universes that Winsome Sinclair helped bring to life, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of loss. Her contributions to the industry were not just about filling roles with faces, but about breathing life into characters and stories that resonated deeply with audiences.
Winsome Sinclair, the talented casting director known for recruiting actors for movies such as ‘Waiting to Exhale’, ‘Amistad’, ‘Precious’, ‘The Best Man’ (among others directed by Spike Lee), passed away at the age of 58.
I’m deeply saddened to share that I recently lost my battle with colon cancer, surrounded by love and support from my family on Long Island. My heartfelt thanks go out to Clorissa Wright-Thomas who shared this news with The Hollywood Reporter.
In 1996, a resident of New York City established the international talent agency, Winsome Sinclair and Associates, right in the heart of New York. However, in 2014, seeing Atlanta’s surge in film production, the business was moved to that city.
Sinclair additionally recruited supporting actors for movies such as “Higher Learning” (1995), directed by John Singleton, “2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003), “Abduction” (2011), films led by Malcolm D. Lee including “The Best Man” (1999) and “Barbershop: The Next Cut” (2016), as well as productions helmed by Dee Rees, namely “Pariah” (2011) and “Bessie” (2015).
She took care of comparable responsibilities in the movies “Dead Presidents” (1995) by the Hughes brothers, “Waiting to Exhale” (1995) directed by Forest Whitaker, “Amistad” (1997) by Steven Spielberg, “Black Snake Moan” (2006) from Craig Brewer, and “Precious” (2009) of Lee Daniels.
Sinclair worked as a casting intern on Lee’s “Mo’ Better Blues” in 1990, followed by collaborations with the director on various projects including “Jungle Fever” in 1991, “Malcolm X” in 1992, “Crooklyn” in 1994, “Clockers” in 1995, “Get on the Bus” in 1996, “He Got Game” in 1998, “Summer of Sam” in 1999, “25th Hour” in 2002, “She Hate Me” in 2004, “Inside Man” in 2006, “Miracle at St. Anna” in 2008 and “Red Hook Summer” in 2012.
Winsome G.M. Sinclair hails from Long Island, born on October 27, 1965. Her parents, Walter and Shirley, who were immigrants from Jamaica, welcomed her into this world in the United States. After completing her education at Uniondale High School and Florida A&M University, she ventured into business.
Her first casting director credit came on Hype Williams’ Belly (1998), starring Nas and DMX.
Sinclair’s filmography encompassed projects such as “Cadillac Records” from 2008, “Sparkle” in 2012, the biopic about Tupac Shakur titled “All Eyez on Me,” released in 2017, and “Nappily Ever After” which came out in 2018. Additionally, Sinclair was featured in the BET series “Being Mary Jane.”
Apart from this, she was responsible for creating several films, among them being a 2017 documentary titled “Maynard“, which focuses on Maynard Jackson Jr., the inaugural African-American mayor of Atlanta.
In 2017, Sinclair took in Micah (now 10 years old) and Kairo (now 8), whom she affectionately refers to as her “blood brothers.” Their bond inspired her to write her 2020 book titled “You Are My SONshines.” Unfortunately, they have predeceased her, along with her parents, siblings Nick, Mark, Barry, and Kirk, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help her kids.
In a touching tribute on Instagram, Cassandra Butcher shared that Sinclair “brightened every life she touched, possessing an extraordinary talent for recognizing potential in individuals beyond their own perception.” She was not just a lover of life and culture, but her fervor for the arts and her unwavering affection for her family and community will undoubtedly continue to influence those who knew her. Sinclair’s impact on the film industry and the hearts she touched will endure, serving as a testament to her vivacious spirit and the stories she contributed in bringing to fruition.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-15 01:25