‘Beauty in Black’ Actor Ricco Ross to Co-Host Ndlala Grandeur in Pretoria

 

American actor Ricco Ross is set to visit South Africa for the first time this December, where he will take on hosting duties at Ndlala Arena in Pretoria.

Ross, who has gained a new generation of fans for his role as Horace Bellarie in Tyler Perry’s Netflix drama Beauty in Black, will co-host the red carpet and main show during Ndlala Grandeur Season 2 Part 2.

The actor is scheduled to appear on December 16 and 17 as part of the wider Ndlala Grandeur event, which will run from December 16 to 19 at Ndlala Arena, located at Ndlala Mall in Arcadia, Pretoria. Organisers have yet to reveal the full entertainment line-up for the four-night event.

Ross’s appearance follows a busy year for Ndlala Arena, which has continued to establish itself as a major destination for large-scale entertainment events and R&B performances.

Ricco Ross brings decades of acting experience

Although Ross is currently best known for Beauty in Black, his career spans more than four decades across film and television.

Born in Chicago in 1958, Ross studied at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts before furthering his training at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art.

He began building his television career with appearances in popular productions including Hill Street Blues and The Young and the Restless. Over the years, he went on to secure roles in several internationally recognised films and television series.

Among his credits are Mission: Impossible, Doctor Who, The Practice, JAG, ER, P-Valley and Bosch: Legacy.

One of his most notable early performances came in James Cameron’s 1986 science-fiction film Aliens, where he portrayed Private Frost.

More recently, Ross has reached a wider audience through Beauty in Black, the Tyler Perry-created Netflix drama in which he plays Horace Bellarie.

His decision to co-host Ndlala Grandeur gives South African fans an opportunity to see the veteran actor outside his usual television and film roles.

Ndlala Grandeur continues its R&B legacy

Ross’s December appearance comes after Ndlala Arena hosted its second Ndlala Grandeur event earlier this year.

The 2026 edition expanded the event into a larger celebration of R&B, featuring international performers including Mýa, RL, Ginuwine, Case and Tyrese.

South African artists such as Zonke, Vusi Nova and Brian Themba also joined the line-up, while several international performers received stars on the Ndlala Walk of Fame.

The first Ndlala Grandeur, held in 2025, featured R&B stars Joe and Donell Jones, with Somizi serving as host.

With Ross now joining the December programme, Ndlala Grandeur is set to combine live entertainment with an international television and film personality, adding another attraction to its growing entertainment brand.