Winston Ntshona, the South African actor and playwright who won a Tony Award and had a pivotal role in the 1989 apartheid film drama A Dry White Season, has died. He was 76.

Ntshona died Thursday morning in New Brighton, South Africa, a spokesperson from The South African State Theater told The Hollywood Reporter. No cause of death was given.

"With the passing of beautiful Winston, I have lost a dearly beloved brother," playwright Athol Fugard said in a statement. "A big tree has fallen in the forest. Fortunately for us survivors, there are young ones now growing taller....