South African actress and model Charlbi Dean has died at the age of 32.
A representative for Dean confirmed to TMZ that she passed on Monday (August 29) in New York City of an unexpected and sudden illness.
The actress recently co-starred in director Ruben Östlund’s upcoming film Triangle of Sadness - acting alongside Woody Harrelson - marking it as her first major movie.
Dean played the role of model Yaya - one of the survivors of a sunken cruise ship who becomes stranded on an island. The film is slated for release in movie theaters on October 7 and has already won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Born and raised in Cape Town as Charlbi Dean Kriek, Dean made her acting debut in the 2010 South African movie Spud and also appeared in its 2013 sequel.
The actress was also known for her recurring role as Syonide - an assassin anti-hero who's got bulletproof skin and excellent combat skills - in the DC Comics series Black Lightning.
Her other film credits include Blood in the Water, Don't Sleep, An Interview with God, and Porthole. She is also a model, having graced the covers of the South African editions of GQ in December 2008, Elle in July 2010, and Vogue Scandiania in June 2022.
The South African star was active on her social media several days before her death and posted a series of professional modeling pictures on Instagram.
Fans and peers from the industry have now taken to social media to share tributes for the late star.
The Triangle of Sadness director posted an emotional tribute to Dean on his Instagram on Tuesday (August 30), calling her death "a shock and a tragedy."
"It is an honor to have gotten to know and work with her. Charlbi had care and sensitivity that lifted her colleagues and the entire film crew," he wrote.
"The thought that she will not be by our side in the future makes me very sad. At this difficult time, my thoughts go out to her loved ones, her family, and her fiance Luke," he concluded.
Artist and Filmmaker Derek Kettela commented under her last post, writing: "Gone way too young, a beautiful person inside and out, Rest In Peace."
A fan also shared their condolences: "Can't believe you're gone. Will always remember you as Amanda in Spud. Rest easy beautiful angel."
Film critic Robert Daniels tweeted that the news was "very tragic," and that Dean was "on the verge of a breakthrough with Triangle of Sadness. I was so looking forward to where her career was going to go next".
Dean - who survived a near-fatal car accident in 2008 - was engaged to Luke Volker, who shared a post on Instagram during Cannes that he "couldn't be more proud" of her success.
Additional information surrounding her death has not yet been made available.
Our thoughts are with Dean's family, friends, and fans at this time.