20:47 PST 3/11/2021
by
Abid Rahman
The South African played Ba’al in the sci-fi series.
Cliff Simon, the South African character actor who played as the evil Ba’al in the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1, died Tuesday after a kiteboarding accident. He was 58.
According to a message on Simon’s Facebook page, the actor died after the tragic accident on Topanga Beach, near Malibu. ‘He was known to most of you on this page as the villain you hated, Baal Stargate SG-1. But as he said, “acting is what I do, it’s just a part of who I am.” And he was so much more – a true original, an adventurer, a sailor, swimmer, dancer, actor, writer. There is a gaping hole where he once stood on this earth. He was loved among too many to mention and had a huge impact on so many lives. ‘
Best known for playing the evil Baal in five seasons of the hit science series Stargate SG-1, his character was a member of an alien species called Goa’uld, and one of the last System Lords.
Born in Johannesburg, Simon excelled in gymnastics and in his youth was a swimmer at the competition level and chose to focus on the latter. In the early 1980s, its sporting potential, coupled with the global sports boycott of South Africa due to Apartheid, led Simon and his family to move to the United Kingdom to pursue his Olympic ambitions. He qualified for the national swimming group in Great Britain and was on course to qualify for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at the age of 17. Finally, after years of intense training, he was burnt out and did not make it to the Olympics.
He returned to South Africa and joined the army and spent two years in the air force. After his military service, he danced and performed in cabaret and stage performances in South Africa before being presented with a prestigious place in the choir at the Moulin Rouge in Paris. After six months, he became a lead dancer in the Moulin Rouge.
After a year in France, he returns home. He did modeling but wanted to move on to acting. His big breakthrough came when he was the very first Mr. Won South Africa competition, and a producer saw him and offered him a role in the bilingual South African soapie. Egoli: Place of gold.
He played as Mitch Egoli: Place of gold for seven years. In 2000, he moved to the United States to pursue acting opportunities. His first American role was on Nash Bridges. A year later he achieved the share of Baal in Stargate SG-1, which reconsiders the character in 2008’s live video Stargate: continuum.
Simon was usually cast in his television work as a villain. His other notable credits include 24, NCIS Los Angeles, NCIS New Orleans, The Americans, Underdakers and Castle.
He realized a lifelong dream and in 2005 became a US citizen.
In July 2016, his book Paris Nights: My Year at the Moulin Rouge has been published.