Cliff Simon, best known as the villainous Ba'al in "Stargate SG-1," has died at age 58. The South African actor was killed Tuesday in a kiteboarding accident in Topanga Beach, near Malibu, California, according to a statement posted by his wife on Facebook.
"He was known to most of you on this page as the villain you loved to hate, Ba'al, from Stargate SG-1. But as he said, 'acting is what I do, it's only a part of who I am,'" the statement read. "And he was SO much more — a true original, an adventurer, a sailor, swimmer, dancer, actor, author. There is a gaping hole where he once stood on this earth."
Born in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, Simon's first passion was swimming. As a competitive athlete, he aspired to compete in the Olympics and moved to the U.K. with his family to pursue his dream, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was well on his way to achieving his goal but years of intense training took its toll and he decided to take a break. He returned to South Africa to serve in the military for two years before exploring his love for acting.
Simon appeared in various stage shows as a dancer. He spent six months in Paris dancing at the Moulin Rouge and later became the first ever Mr. South Africa, which opened the door for his acting career.
Simon starred in the local soap, "Egoli: Place of Gold" for several years before moving to the U.S. He appeared in various TV shows including "24" and "NCIS: Los Angeles" but his most memorable role was as Ba'al in "Stargate SG-1."
"He was loved by too many to mention and had a great impact on so many lives," Simon's wife wrote. "He was an amazing and much loved brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. He was and always will be the love of my life and there is unimaginable heartbreak."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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