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Seldom does fate imbue a single human being with the dual gifts of artistic greatness and sage kindness. In Brett Goldin these qualities coexisted with an impish sense of humour that made him one of the most loved and admired performers in the trade.

The South African theatre and film industries suffered a loss this week with his untimely and brutal passing.

Brett began performing at the age of eleven and subsequently never let up. Over the last few years, every viewer of home-grown television has at one time or another seen his face. His versatility and artistry as a performer made him equally plausible in comedy or drama, soap opera or cop show, always with class and charm.

More recently and most famously, Brett had begun working with pals Gavin Williams, Trevor Clarence and Brendan Jack on the 'Crazy Monkey' project, which began as a series of inspired skits on MTV and ended up as a feature film, the hugely popular 'Straight Outta Benoni'.

What those who saw him only on television and in film missed out on was Brett’s extraordinary talent on the stage. Type-cast in (usually comic) character parts on TV, he was incandescent in the theatre. The seemingly hyperbolic accolades paid him by Janet Suzman and John Kani fall short of accurately depicting the acutely personal relationship Brett seemed to forge with a live audience.

His first professional appearance, while still in his teens, was in 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole'. Thus was launched a career which included a Best Actor award at the RAPS festival before he finished school and multiple roles in 'A Tale of Two Cities' at the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg after Matric.

Brett went on to perform in various university productions, some penned by himself and some the works of illustrious playwrights from Sam Sheppard to Shakespeare (including a devilish, troubled and unforgettable Iago in 'Othello'), before graduating from UCT with a BA in Drama and devoting himself full-time to the profession.

In this he conquered every challenge he tackled — playwriting, stand-up comedy, musical performance, DJ-ing and acting. In each he was almost pathologically professional.

Brett’s longest-running role was his real self: a good man — a rare and a pure thing. He possessed wit as well as wisdom, humility, empathy and a strength of character that never deserted him. He was a fiercely loyal friend and a consummate mensch.

Brett was the last to judge; the first to forgive. He was relentlessly and infectiously optimistic, always maintaining faith in others, in the goodness of the world and in the ultimate success of his own destiny. His unflagging enthusiasm inspired those around him, and his passion — especially for music and film — was palpable. He also made terrific coffee.

Brett leaves behind his parents, Denise and Peter, his sister Samantha, and literally hundreds of friends, colleagues and fans who will mourn the passing of this brave and big-hearted young man.

All the clichés about the darlings of the gods ring horribly true in Brett’s case. If there were any justice in this world, he would have gone on to join and even surpass the ranks of the Suzmans and the Richard E. Grants. His cruel end gives his last project, a role in 'Hamlet', a tragic, dramatic irony which he no doubt would have relished.

Goodnight, Brett. You know the rest.