Winsome Sinclair, a veteran casting professional who worked on scores of films and TV shows many as casting director including Malcolm D. LeesThe Best Man,Steven SpielbergsAmistad,the Gabrielle Union seriesBeing Mary Janeand a dozenSpike Leemovies, died August 12 of colon cancer on Long Island.
She was 58.
Her rep Clorissa Wright-Thomas confirmed the news to Deadline, saying Sinclair had been in hospice care and that her family was at her bedside.
Winsome SinclairCourtesy photos
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Winsome Sinclair, a woman of extraordinary faith and a trailblazer in the film industry, her family said in a statement (read it in full below).
Winsomes life was a testament to radical faith, and she lived each day with a heart full of love and gratitude.
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Born on October 27, 1965 in Jamaica, she grew up in New York after her family moved there when she was a small child.
Sinclair served as casting director on more than a dozen films and several TV series and in the casting department for more than 50 others ranging from an internship on Spike Lees 1990Mo Better Bluesto several current projects in various stages of production.
She also worked on Spike Lees filmsJungle Fever,Malcolm X,Crooklyn,Clockers,Get on the Bus,He Got Game,Summer of Sam,25th Hour,She Hate Me,Inside Man,Miracle at St. AnnaandRedHook Summer.
Sinclairs many other credits include John SingletonsHigher Learning, 2 Fast 2 FuriousandAbductionand Malcom D. LeesThe Best Man(1999) andBarbershop: The Next Cut.
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Other films on which she served in the casting department include SpielbergsAmistad,Lee DanielsPrecious, Forest WhitakersWaiting to Exhaleand the Tupac Shakur biopicAll Eyez on Me.Along withBeing Mary Jane,Sinclairs TV credits include Dee Rees biopicBessie,starring Queen Latifah as blues legend Bessie Smith.
Sinclair is survived by her two young adopted sons, brothers Micah and Kairo; her parents Shirley and Walter Sinclair; brothers Nick, Mike, Kirk and Barry; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Here is the familys statement in full:
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Winsome Sinclair, a woman of extraordinary faith and a trailblazer in the film industry.
Winsome, a graduate of Florida A&M University, passed away on August 12th after dedicating nearly three decades to casting and filmmaking, working alongside iconic directors such as Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and Lee Daniels.
As the founder of Winsome Sinclair and Associates, she was a guiding force behind countless cinematic masterpieces, including Amistad, Malcolm X, and The Best Man.
Her passion for storytelling and commitment to her craft touched the lives of many, both within the industry she cherished and the community she held dear.Winsomes life was a testament to radical faith, and she lived each day with a heart full of love and gratitude.
Beyond her professional achievements, she was a devoted mother to her two children, Micah and Kairo, whom she loved with all her heart.
As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we find solace in the respected body of work and legacy she leaves behind.We love her and will miss her dearly.In loving memory of Winsome, we kindly ask for your support in helping her sons Micah and Kairo during this difficult time.
