Winsome Sinclair, a renowned casting director who assisted in the casting of many iconic films—including several Spike Lee joints, The Best Man, Waiting to Exhale, Amistad, and Precious — passed away on August 12 at the age of 58. Sinclair, who had been battling colon cancer, died in hospice care on Long Island, surrounded by her family, according to her publicist Clorissa Wright-Thomas.
Born on October 27, 1965, Sinclair was a native of Long Island, New York. She launched her global casting agency, Winsome Sinclair and Associates, in New York in 1996. The agency quickly became a significant force in the industry, known for its ability to discover and nurture talent. In 2014, Sinclair moved her business to Atlanta, coinciding with the city’s emergence as a major hub for film and television production.
Sinclair’s illustrious career began with an internship on Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues (1990), which marked the start of a long collaboration with the acclaimed director. Over the years, she contributed to over a dozen of Lee’s films, including Jungle Fever (1991), Malcolm X (1992), Inside Man (2006), and Red Hook Summer (2012).
Her work extended far beyond Lee’s films. Sinclair was the casting director for numerous other major projects, including John Singleton’s Higher Learning (1995), Steven Spielberg’s Amistad (1997), and the Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me (2017). She also handled casting for TV series such as the BET hit Being Mary Jane.
In addition to her contributions to casting, Sinclair produced several films, including the 2017 documentary Maynard, which chronicled the life of Maynard Jackson Jr., the first Black mayor of Atlanta.
In 2017, Sinclair adopted two young brothers, Micah and Kairo, who became the inspiration for her 2020 book, You Are My SONshines. Her family and close friends remember her as a woman of extraordinary faith and deep love for her community.
A GoFundMe page has been established to support her sons during this difficult time.
Reflecting on her legacy, producer and publicist Cassandra Butcher wrote on Instagram, “Winsome brought light to everyone she encountered, with a unique ability to see more in people than they could see in themselves. Her passion for the arts and her deep love for family and community will continue to inspire those who knew her. Winsome’s legacy in the film industry and the lives she touched will live on, reminding us of her vibrant spirit and the stories she helped bring to life.”