Beloved Jamaican Actor Munair Zacca Passes Away at 79

Kingston, Jamaica – Esteemed Jamaican stage, television, and film actor Munair Zacca has passed away at the age of 79. His wife of 40 years, Adelina Pedroda Zacca, confirmed the news to The Gleaner this morning.

Zacca, who had been battling diabetes and a lung disorder, had been ailing for some time. His health challenges forced him to step away from the theatre in recent years. According to his wife, it had been a very difficult final few years, but he continued to receive love and support from many people.

Adelina noted that Zacca was 79, not 80 as some reports suggested, and described him as a true Cancerian.

Best known for his iconic role as Sonny T in the Lennie Little-White-produced television drama Royal Palm Estate, Zacca became a household name in Jamaica. The show, which aired from 1994 to 2015, centered around the wealthy Blackburn family living on a former sugar manor in Jamaica.

Adelina reflected on their whirlwind romance, having met in the Cayman Islands before getting married and welcoming a daughter all within a year. A former yoga teacher and flamenco dancer, she became his biggest supporter throughout his celebrated career.

Although unfamiliar with Jamaica or its culture when they met, Adelina quickly immersed herself in his world. She noted that Zacca had performed in 180 plays and was known for his shy nature offstage despite his commanding presence on it. He worked alongside some of the greatest Jamaican performers, including Miss Lou, and was the only actor to appear nude on stage at The Ward Theatre in the play Dream on Monkey Island.

Despite his fame, Zacca often remarked that he had the recognition but not the fortune, a reality Adelina accepted as part of their destiny.

Beyond his work on stage, Zacca’s talent extended to film. His credits include Countryman (1982), Passion and Paradise (1989), Shottas (2002), Better Mus’ Come (2011), Kingston Paradise (2013), and Destiny (2014). His stage accolades include Anansi and Unsung Heroes out West, Lotto Money, and Art, which earned him the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2008 Actor Boy Awards.

Zacca would have celebrated his 80th birthday in June. As Jamaica mourns the passing of one of its most revered actors, his legacy continues to live on through his unforgettable performances and the many lives he touched.