Henry Cele (Zulu pronunciation: [hɛnˈri ˈkǀɛːle]) (20 January 1941 – 2 December 2007[1]) was a South African football player and actor.

In 1981, he was asked to audition for the role of the Zulu Warrior King Shaka kaSenzangakhona on stage for a production that played for a year.

[2] Cele was raised by his grandmother, at the age of 16 due to financial problems he had to leave school and turned to sports.

[3] Cele, nicknamed "Black Cat" for his prowess as a goalkeeper, played for Aces United in the old South African Soccer League (SASL) in the 1960s.

In later years, Cele moved from his suburban home in Glenmore, south of Durban, and returned to his hometown in KwaMashu township.

[11] He is buried at the Stellawood Cemetery in Durban eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.