Winsome Sinclair Dies Casting Pro On ‘The Best Man’, ‘Amistad’ & A Dozen Spike Lee Films Dead At 58

Winsome Sinclair, a beloved casting director known for bringing in talent for hits like Malcolm X and Waiting to Exhale, has died at age 58. On Wednesday (Aug. 14) a statement from Sinclair’s publicist, Clorissa Wright-Thomas, stating that Winsome had passed on Monday (Aug. 12) after a long battle with colon cancer. Deadline shared a statement from Sinclair’s family, honoring the woman’s life for all the love she brought to the world.“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Winsome Sinclair, a woman of extraordinary faith and a trailblazer in the film industry. Winsome, a graduate of Florida A&M University, passed away on August 12th after dedicating nearly three decades to casting and filmmaking, working alongside iconic directors such as Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and Lee Daniels,” the statement read. “Winsome’s life was a testament to radical faith, and she lived each day with a heart full of love and gratitude. Beyond her professional achievements, she was a devoted mother to her two children, Micah and Kairo, whom she loved with all her heart. As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we find solace in the respected body of work and legacy she leaves behind.   Sinclair began working with Spike as a casting intern on his 1990 film, Mo’ Better Blues. She then worked with Lee on 1991’s Jungle Fever, Malcolm X (1992), Crooklyn (1994), Clockers (1995), Get on the Bus (1996), He Got Game (1998), Summer of Sam (1999), 25th Hour (2002), She Hate Me (2004), Inside Man (2006), 2008’s Miracle at St. Anna and then 2012’s Red Hook Summer. However, THR reports that it was 1998’s Belly that was her first casting director credit. Winsome Sinclair also worked in casting extras for the iconic John Singleton in films like Higher Learning (1995), 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious, and 2011’s Abduction. Other works she has helped select talent for include Dead Presidents (1995), 1995’s Waiting to Exhale, The Best Man (1999), Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016), Pariah (2011), Bessie (2015), and more. 

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