Waldemar Schultz

Waldemar Schultz (1970-) is an actor and director for stage, film and TV.

Also known as Waldi Schultz.

Biography
Born in Milnerton, Cape Town, on 21 April 1970 and raised there, growing up a fluent bilingual in English and Afrikaans. He studied drama at the University of Stellenbosch, eventually completing a M.Dram degree in directing. As a student he first caught the attention of critics in his second year with his performance as "Allan Strang" in Equus, followed by a number of highly praised performances in Afrikaans and English. During his masters' studies, he directed critically acclaimed versions of Bartho Smit's controversial play Christine (1993) and Ionesco's Die Renosters (1994) for the department.

After working in the Cape for a number of years, the Schultz family moved to Joahnnesburg in 2000 when he worked on the TV soap 7de Laan, remaining there till 2008, when he left the show and they returned to the Cape, eventually settling in Somerset West.

He married his fellow student, the actress and drama teacher Ira Blanckenberg, in 1996 and the couple had two children, Kieran Schultz and Dhania Schultz, both performers, like their parents. Kieran died tragically in an accident 2013.

Voice Work
While still a graduate student, Schultz began a freelance career in commercials, voice dubbing and radio dramas for the SABC, and would eventually go on to become a dubbing director for Quantum Productions for a while.

Stage work
He began his professional career as one of the four original actors employed by Spektrum Produksies in Stellenbosch, for whom he worked both as actor and an occasional director, and has been a free-lance performer and director ever since. Over the years he has worked on many theatre projects (as actor, director and occasionally even as writer) for different companies including PACT, CAPAB, Spektrum Produksies, Blond Produksies, Stercus Produksies.

His numerous stage roles in later years include "Ebenezer" in Ebenezer Pennieknyper, Pa, Maak vir my 'n Vlieër, Pa (2016), Bidsprinkaan (2016), Hie' Sit die Manne, Net 'n Chilliburger en Chips Asseblief (2015-6),

Has also directed plays for the Klein Libertas-teater and various theatre festivals.

Children's Theatre
He and his wife share an interest in theatre for children, and besides directing such work, he is closely involved with the youth theatre festival in Durbanville and the Logan-tienertoneelfees in Fraserburg.

Work in TV and Film
He began his TV career as "Klein-Geoff" in the 1994 series, Woestynblom and "Paul Kruger" in the CCV youth drama Young Vision, followed by cameo roles in Hagenheim: Streng Privaat, Soutmansland and Arsenaal. Then, in 2000 he was cast as "Jan-Hendrik Terreblanche" in the popular SABC2 soap opera Sewende Laan ("Seventh Avenue"), which not only became a full-time occupation till 2008, but made Schultz a familiar face on TV. His next TV work (2010-2011) came as the lead character in the kykNET improvisational show Proesstraat ("Proes Street"), recorded without a script, in front of a live audience. He also had smaller roles in Dominion, Hooten and the Lady, the SABC1 sitcom Stokvel (2012), the kykNET murder mystery series Die Boland Moorde ("The Boland Murders").

In 2016 he played the lead (Colonel Piet van der Bijl) in the crime series Die Byl ("The Axe").

His film roles include Black Butterflies (2011), Catch a Fire (2006) and Heart & Soul (2011).

Teaching
During his masters' studies (1992 to 1994) he also taught acting at the Department.

Awards, etc
He was awarded the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Most Promising Student in 1992.

Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities S

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page