Who is Keenan Arrison? Get to know the Cape Town-born actor
Keenan Arrison is a talented South African actor and producer known for his captivating screen presence. Born in Cape Town, his roles in Shirley Adams (2009), Skeem (2011), The Crown (2017), and Tomb Raider (2018) have earned him international acclaim.
My biggest fear I’ve had to overcome is the fear of failure. Failure is as much a part of the journey. It’s okay to fail, it’s what fuels the fire.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Keenan is a South African actor, director, voice artist, and singer with a successful career spanning over a decade.
- The actor is reportedly single, probably prioritising his career in the entertainment industry.
- He is a South African national with a multi-cultural background.
- In 2012, Keenan was in a relationship with Bianca Le Grange, a South African actress and singer.
Keenan Arrison's profile summary
| Full name | Keenan Angelo Arrison |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | February 23, 1981 |
| Age | 44 years old (as of 2025) |
| Place of birth | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches |
| Weight | 80 kg (approx) |
| Relationship status | Single |
| Education | AFDA, The School for the Creative Economy |
| Profession | Actor, director, voice artist, and singer |
| Social media | InstagramFacebook |
A look at Keenan Arrison's age and early life
Keenan, whose full name is Keenan Angelo Arrison, 44 years old as of 2025, was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 23, 1981. He holds a BA in Live Performance and Motion Picture from AFDA, The School for the Creative Economy.
In a Q&A interview with Cape Town Magazine, the South African actor talked about his childhood memories. He revealed,
My most vivid childhood memory would be having my father teaching me how to swim every weekend. I was very young, but I remember him telling me how important it is to know how to swim. Those were valuable lessons.
Source: Original
About Keenan Arrison's ethnicity and parents
Keenan is of mixed ethnic background with ties to Hispanic, Latin American, Mediterranean (dark), Middle Eastern, and Turkish/Kurdish backgrounds. He was born and raised in Cape Town and holds South African nationality.
Although details about his parents and siblings are not publicly available, Keenan took to Instagram on July 18, 2021, to wish his mother a happy birthday. He captioned,
Happy birthday to the love of my life … Mama Bear
A look at Keenan Arrison's acting career
Arrison is a renowned actor and producer, but he first studied to be a chef. He revealed this during a March 2018 interview with SowetanLIVE. He said,
My grandfather was a chef when he was young, and so I think it's a part of my DNA.
He made his film debut in 2009 in Shirley Adams, where he played Donovan Adams, and has since accumulated over 43 acting credits. Some of the movies and TV shows Keenan Arrison has appeared in include:
| Year | Film/TV show | Role |
| 2025 | The Heart Is a Muscle | Ryan |
| 2024 | Angels | Paul Taylor |
| 2023 | The Umbrella Men: Escape From Robben Island | Mortimer |
| 2021 | Binnelanders | Martin |
| 2018 | Tomb Raider | Mercenary |
| 2016 | Two Degrees of Murder | Ra'ed Shad |
| 2014 | When We Were Black | Shaheed Aziz |
| 2013 | After 9 | Zane Matthews |
| 2011 | Getroud Met Rugby | Cedric |
Producing and performances
Keenan is involved in directing, producing, and writing, often focusing on storytelling that reflects everyday people's lives. He is also known for his singing and stage performances, showcasing his versatility in the arts.
Source: Instagram
A look at Keenan Arrison's wife and relationship status
Keenan Arrison is reportedly unmarried, and there are no reports of his wife or girlfriend. He is probably focusing on his career.
However, in 2012, he was in a relationship with Bianca Le Grange, a South African talented actress and singer. In a TimesLive Video interview, Bianca candidly talked about their relationship. She said,
We are in love, not getting married anytime soon, and not having babies anytime soon…yeah, we just love life, we love each other, we love you out there.
The former celebrity couple has since called off their relationship. Bianca is currently married to actor David Arnold Johnson.
Source: Instagram
Trivia
- Keenan co-wrote and starred in the Cannes-nominated short film Ongeriewe.
- He gained national recognition for his role as Ashwin Fernandez in M-Net's soap opera The Wild.
- Keenan has worked alongside acclaimed actors including Alicia Vikander and Dominic West.
Final word
Keenan Arrison continues to inspire audiences with his dynamic performances and creative vision. His dedication to his craft has made him a respected figure in the South African entertainment industry. Beyond acting, he contributes as a writer and director, telling meaningful stories.
READ MORE: Obed Baloyi's story
Briefly.co.za shared an article about Obed Baloyi, a South African actor whose career spans decades in the entertainment scene.
Baloyi made his television debut in 2000 but gained prominence as Tsutsuma in the sitcom Ga Re Dumele, a role he played for six seasons from 2010 to 2019. Obed has since appeared in over 17 films and TV shows.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
