Douglas Geerdts

Douglas Geerdts (b. 21/05/1919 – d. 16/11/1983) was a sound recordist for film and television.

Also credited as D. Geerdts and D.H. Geerdts.

Biography

Douglas Haig Geerdts was a sound recordist who was employed by African Film Productions during the 1940s and 1950s and worked on both features and documentaries. After he left AFP he bought a tobacco farm north of Pretoria and continued to do freelance work as a soundman, which included a stint for George Michael on his The Michaels of Africa television series. His father, Albert, had become a hotel proprietor in Bethal and after his death, Douglas’s brother Thomas had taken over the management. He, in turn, was succeeded by Douglas. His first wife, Hilda Geerdts, was a wardrobe mistress and later a make-up artist who had come out to Africa to work for Zoltan Korda. They met on the set of Korda’s Cry, the Beloved Country (1951). After their divorce in 1964 he married Susanna Jansen.