| Birth Date: | February 1944 |
| Birth Place: | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Death Date: | (aged 76) |
| Death Place: | Johannesburg |
| Occupation: | Casting director |
| Years Active: | 1974–2020 |
| Spouse: | Leon Lee (div. 1973) |
| Children: | 2 |
Moonyeenn Lee (February 1944 – 18 July 2020) was a South African casting director, talent agent and producer. She earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work on the Hulu series The Looming Tower and the 2016 Roots remake. She became the first South African member of both the Motion Picture and Television Academies.[1] [2]
Lee founded the talent agency Moonyeenn Lee & Associates (MLA) in 1974 and Khulisa Productions in 1998. She was awarded the Lionel Ngakane Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 South African Film and Television Awards.[3]
Lee was born in Johannesburg. She was named after a character from the 1932 film Smilin' Through.[4] She moved to England, where she was mostly educated, when she was 7 for her mother Shirley Hepburn's work as a stage actress whilst her father stayed behind in South Africa. She began working for a knitwear company in London at 17.[5]
Lee and salesman Leon Lee were married for five years and divorced in 1974. The pair had a son David and a daughter Cindy. After her divorce, Lee was looking for a new career. She trained to become an agent with James Fraser of Fraser and Dunlop in England.[6] [7]
Lee raised her children in Parkmore, who both now work in the entertainment industry. She later lived in Rosebank.[5]
Lee's agency MLA announced Lee had died at the age of 76 in Johannesburg of complications related to COVID-19 on the morning of 18 July 2020.[8] [9] A number of actors, other industry people, and Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa paid their tributes.[10] [11]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Summer House | Television film |
| 1994 | The Line | Television film |
| 1996 | Inside | Television film |
| 1997 | Mandela and de Klerk | Television film |
| 1998 | Diamond Girl | Television film |
| 1998 | Running Wild | Television film |
| 1999–2004 | Yizo Yizo | |
| 2001 | Dr Lucille: The Lucille Teasdale Story | Television film |
| 2002 | In Desert and Wilderness | |
| 2007–2012 | Wild at Heart | |
| 2007 | Life Is Wild | |
| 2008 | The Devil's Whore | Miniseries |
| 2009 | Hopeville | |
| 2009 | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | |
| 2009 | The Prisoner | Miniseries |
| 2011 | Leonardo | |
| 2012 | Fynbos | |
| 2012 | Dirty Laundry | Short film |
| 2013 | Mary and Martha | Television film |
| 2014 | Homeland | Season 4 |
| 2015 | The Gamechangers | Television film |
| 2016 | Cape Town | Miniseries |
| 2016 | Roots | Miniseries |
| 2016 | Hooten & the Lady | Miniseries |
| 2017 | Madiba | Miniseries |
| 2018 | Black Panther | |
| 2018 | The Looming Tower | Miniseries |
| 2019 | The Girl from St. Agnes | Miniseries[12] |
| 2019 | Warrior | |
| 2019 | The Hot Zone | |
| 2020 | Shaina | Television film; posthumous release |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Roots | ||
| 2017 | South African Film and Television Awards | Dr Lionel Ngakane Lifetime Achievement Award | |||
| 2018 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | The Looming Tower | [13] | |