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Barry Johann Ronge (30 December 1947 – 3 July 2022) was a South African journalist, columnist, writer, broadcaster, movie reviewer and raconteur. He was one of the country's best-known movie critics as well as one of its most widely read (and discussed) columnists.

Early life

Ronge was born in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, and grew up on the West Rand where he attended Florida Park High School. He completed his studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, after which he began a teaching career at St. John's College, followed by a ten-year stint as a lecturer in literature at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Career

He later moved on to become a print and electronic journalist, specializing in the arts. In addition to writing movie reviews he was also a food critic in his early career writing under the pseudonym Rebecca Parker.

Ronge is best known for his Spit and Polish column in the Sunday Times, his movie reviews for the same newspaper, and his Sunday evening show on Radio 702. After writing for the Sunday Times for 27 years, he wrote his last column on 23 February 2014. In 2015, the Sunday Times renamed its prize for South African literature to the Barry Ronge Fiction Prize.

During the 1990s and 2000s Ronge was a film critic on M-Net where worked on a number of movie review shows most notably Front Row, Revue Plus and Cinemagic with Barry Ronge. He also appeared on the SABC 3 movie review show Screenplay.

Death

He passed away in his hometown, Johannesburg, on 3 July 2022.

Books

• Spit 'n Polish, 2006, Penguin Books SA, ISBN 9780143025252

Awards

• Thomas Pringle Award for Reviews, English Academy of South Africa, 2005
• Barry Ronge Fiction Prize longlist.

References

1. Ferreira, Thinus. "South African film critic Barry Ronge, 74, has died". Life. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
2. Wyk, Ferdie Van. "Barry Ronge". www.genza.org.za. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
3. "BARRY RONGE QUOTES AND BOOKINGS – RADIO PERSONALITY". www.entertainment-online.co.za. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
4. ^ "Film critic Barry Ronge dies at 74". YouTube. eNCA. 9 July 2022.
5. ^ "Barry Ronge has died". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
6. Barros, Luiz De (12 July 2022). "Barry Ronge left behind a 45-year queer love story". MambaOnline - Gay South Africa online. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
7. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "South African film critic Barry Ronge, 74, has died". Life. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
8. Bristow-Bovey, Darrel. "The Big Read: Time to write a Ronge". Times LIVE. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
9. "The 2016 Sunday Times Barry Ronge Fiction Prize longlist". Sunday Times Books LIVE @ Sunday Times Books LIVE. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
10. "Barry Ronge Receives a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sunday Times". The Sunday Times. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
11. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "SA biz pays tribute to Barry Ronge: 'His contribution to cinema appreciation is immeasurable'". Life. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
12. "South African film critic Barry Ronge, 74, has died". Channel. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
13. "Media personality and raconteur Barry Ronge has died". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
14. "The 2015 Sunday Times Barry Ronge Fiction Prize Longlist". Sunday Times Books LIVE @ Sunday Times Books LIVE. Retrieved 21 November 2017.

External links

• Barry Ronge's page at the Sunday Times
• Barry Ronge's page at 702

• 1948 births
• 2022 deaths
• South African male journalists
• South African film critics
• White South African people
• University of the Witwatersrand alumni
• Journalists from Johannesburg