Cobus Rossouw
Cobus Rossouw (born circa 1934) is one of the foremost stage and film actors of his generation, as well as a stage director and theatre administrator.
Not to be confused with the lighting designer Kobus Rossouw
Contents
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Biography
He was first married to actress Leonora Nel.
He is now married to actress Sandra Kotzé. Their daughters Susan Rossouw and Wilmien Rossouw are also actresses. Their son, Cobus Rossouw jr., is the director of television productions such as Kruispad and Getroud met Rugby.
Youth
Training
He studied at the University of Cape Town’s Little Theatre in the 1950s under Robert Mohr.
Career
He started his professional career in 1954 at NTO. In 1958-9 he went on a study tour of Europe, where he was exposed to modern practices. * On his return in 1959, he joined Jannie Gildenhuys and Leonora Nel in National Theatre Organisation's NTO Youth Theatre group. They began touring in the Cape in August 1959, with works they devised and put on as a group, continuing in the Transvaal in 1960. By 1961 two groups had been formed for the two provinces. In 1963 the bulk of these groups became part of the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT) drama company.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Some of the many productions in which he has appeared are Die Wit Perde van Rosmersholm 1954, Bohaai oor 'n Otjie, Gekonkel in die Nag, Periandros van Korinthe (as Arioon), Bitter Einde (as Piet Els), Moeder Hanna (as Oupa Harmse) 1959, Die Jakkalsstreke van Scapino (as Silvester), Christine, Die Eerste Oogopslag, Faan se Trein, Die Grootkanonne, Vat hom, Flaffie!, Pa, Maak vir my 'n Vlieër Pa, [Arms and the Man]], The Proposal, Uncle Vanya, Rattle of a Simple Man, Tartuffe, Wie de drommel is Paskwaal?, Die Selfmoordenaar, Die Twisappel, Die Wildsboudjie, Hond se Gedagte, The Idiot by Dostoyevsky directed by Jo Gevers in 1969 for CAPAB.
Shakespeare productions in Afrikaans include the title roles in Richard III (1968/9) and Hamlet (1973), Twaalfde Nag and Koning Lear as Lear in 1971.
Doen ook Dieselfde Pad, Die Goue Seun, Uys Krige, KKNK, 2002.
He acted in several productions of Die Ryk Weduwee
He directed Boesman en Lena for PACOFS, Plaston: DNS-Kind, Twaalfde Nag 1975.
Films include Die Kandidaat (1968), Katrina (1969), My Broer se Bril (1972), Jannie Totsiens (1970).
Awards, etc
Three Leaf Arts Award for Best Actor for his performances in the title roles in Richard III and Tartuffe in 1968.
He and his wife, Sandra Kotzé, were awarded medals of honour for their contribution to Theatre by the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns in 2014.
Sources
Die Les/Moeder Hanna theatre programme, 1959.
Teater SA, 1(3), 1969.
Cape Times, 21 January 1969
Die Burger, 18 August 2009.
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