Jesse Suntele (born 18 September 1992)[1] is a South African actor, model, rapper and television personality. He became popular by winning the second season of the BET reality competition series Top Actor Africa in 2016.[2]

Jesse Suntele
Born
Jesse Suntele

(1992-09-18) 18 September 1992 (age 32)
Other names
  • Officer Bae
  • J-Flo
  • Juggernaut Jesse
Occupations
Years active
  • Actor:
    2014–present
  • Rapper:
    2017–present
Musical career
GenresHip hop
InstrumentsVocals

Early life and education

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Jesse Suntele was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He attended primary school at Fairsand Primary School before moving to Bloemfontein in grade 4. After matriculating from St. Joseph's Christian Brothers College, he moved back to Johannesburg to study Sound Engineering at the Academy of Sound Engineering.[3]

Career

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Television

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In 2013, he auditioned for the SABC 1 reality competition U Can Do It and made it into the Top 10. In 2014, he got a starring role in the first-season finale of the SABC 1 documentary-drama Ngempela, which was his first credited television acting role.[4]

In 2015, he got a guest starring role on SABC 1's Generations: The Legacy. In that same year, he got his first recurring role on the e.tv soapie Ashes to Ashes. The following year in 2016, he won the second season of Top Actor Africa on BET.[5] In that same year, he debuted on the Mzansi Magic telenovela The Queen, making his first appearance in the first season as Tuelo ("Officer Bae"), a policeman by day and a serial killer by night.[6]

In 2017, he was also one of the main hosts for entertainment and variety show BET A-List. He also joined the cast of the Vuzu Amp reality competition series The Hustle, where he was one of the Season 2 contestants, using the rapper stage name "J-Flo" and made it into the Top 6.[7] In that same year, he was nominated in the Feather Awards, for Hunk of the Year.[8]

In 2018, he joined the e.tv soapie Rhythm City in the role of Nqaba.[9]

In 2022, Suntele was cast as Phila Bhengu in the South African Netflix drama series Savage Beauty.[10]

Music

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He has released music as J-Flo, his singles include High by the Beach and Outta Town.[1] He has also been featured on Kelly Khumalo's single Jehova.[11]

In May 2021, he released his debut EP, What Did You Expect.[12]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2023 The Estate (TV series) Thato guest role
2014 Ngempela Sandile starring role
2015–2016 Ashes to Ashes Kabelo recurring role
2015 Generations Himself guest star
2016 Mutual Friends Himself guest star
2016 BET A-List Himself Host
2016 The Queen Tuelo ("Officer Bae") recurring role
2017 The Hustle Himself (J-Flo) contestant
2018 Rhythm City Mzi recurring role
2022 Savage Beauty Phila Bhengu main role
2023 In Your Dreams Marcus main role

Discography

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  • What Did You Expect (2021)

Singles

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Title Year
"High by the Beach"
(With SkyCity Uno)
2018
"Jehovah"
(With Kelly Khumalo)
"Outta Town"

Awards and recognition

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Year Award Category Result
2016 BET Top Actor Africa Won[13]
2017 Feather Awards Hunk Of the Year Nominated[8]
  • 2018 Cosmo Sexiest Men Finalist[14]
  • 2018 Mzansi's Sexiest top 12[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rhythm City Actor Jesse Suntele Celebrates His Birthday". surgezirc.co.za. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ^ "SA Actor Jesse Suntele wins BET 'Top Actor Africa'". screenafrica.com. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ^ "JESSE SUNTELE". afternoonexpress.co.za. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Rhythm City's new hot thang". The Citizen. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Jesse Suntele 'Officer bae' is making his presence felt in showbiz". News24. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  6. ^ "WATCH: The Queen's Officer Bae Jesse is everything". iol.co.za. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Actor And TV Presenter Jesse Suntele Tries His Hand At Rapping". okmzansi.co.za. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Feather Awards: Here are the nominees". News24. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Jesse Suntele to play Suffocate's son on Rhythm City". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Meet the cast of Savage Beauty". news24.com. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  11. ^ "NEW VIDEO: Kelly Khumalo Releases Jehova Visuals Ft. J. Flo". Zkhiphani. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Jesse Suntele introduces rap persona, J Flo with new EP, What Did You Expect". justnje.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  13. ^ "10 Things You Didn't Know About Jesse "Officer Bae" Suntele". Youth Village. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  14. ^ "The finalists for Cosmo's Sexiest Men 2018 are here". News24. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  15. ^ "2018 Mzansi's Sexiest top 12 revealed". SowetanLive. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
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