Ben Dekker

Ben Dekker (1941-) is an actor, artist, activist and politician. ***

Born Benito Adolf Bekker , but generally known as Ben Dekker, he studied philosophy and fine art at Rhodes University. Did a masters degree at the University of Cape Town before turning to acting.

After a period as performer he became notorious/famous in the early 1980’s for opposing the legendary Sir De Villiers Graaff for a parliamentary seat. In 1980 moved to a cave in Port St Johns and has lived there ever since. He has toured Africa from corner to corner, mostly on foot.

His work in the performing arts

Worked at The Space in the early 1970s, with roles in Gilgamesh and Othello Slegs Blankes.

He did designs for Egoli: City of Gold by Matsemela Manaka (Soyikwa Theatre, 1979), **.

Acted in a number of Afrikaans television dramas, English and Afrikaans films and radio dramas. Also writes short stories and poetry, and sculpts.

[TH]

Sources

Toffoli and Silber, 1989,

Astbury 1979.

www.go.co.za/2004/10/28/features/ben.html.

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