View source for Pierre van Pletzen

[[Pierre van Pletzen]] (1951-) is an actor, writer and director on stage, TV and film, and one-time lecturer in drama. 


== Biography ==

Born in Klerksdorp on 1 May, 1951, he studied drama at the [[University of Pothchefstroom]]. 

He began work as an actor for [[PACT]] and later also at [[PACOFS]]. For a number of years he was a lecturer at [[Pretoria Technikon]]’s Drama School. He was part of the original cast of the hugely popular [[Afrikaans]] sitcom, ''[[7de Laan]]'' ("7th Avenue"). 


He was married to the actress [[Elzette Maarschalk]] (1985-1995) and the couple had two children - the singer Pierre-Henry van Pletzen and  the actress and designer [[Zetske van Pletzen]]. In 1996 he married actress [[Sandra Vaughan]] [https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=13809].

==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==


=== As actor ===

Acted in ''[[Die Ryk Weduwee]]'' ([[CAPAB]] 1974). Also in ''[[Voël innie hand]]'' a one man's farce, performed  in the [[Pierneef Theatre]], Pretoria.

=== As director ===

He directed ''[[Laaste Middagmaal]]'' ([[PACOFS]], 1983), ''[[Babbelkous!]]'' (1984), a revival of [[Anthony Shaffer]]’s ''[[Sleuth]]'' at the [[André Huguenet Theatre]] ([[PACOFS]], 1988), the musical ''[[Buddy]]'' ([[Civic]], 1993) and ''[[Haaks]]'' by [[Chris Vorster]]. ([[KKNK]], 2005), ** .

===As artistic director===

He was made Artistic Head of Drama for [[PACOFS]] in the mid 1980s. 

===In TV and Film===

Television roles include "Momberg" in the TV movie ''[[Gideon Scheepers]]'' (1982), "Eben Meintjies" in the series ''[[1922]]'' (1984), and "Spike Potas" in the popular [[Afrikaans]] TV-series ''[[Orkney Snork Nie]]'' ("Orkney does not snore", 1989), which made him a familiar face. But his role as "Oubaas" in the iconic [[Afrikaans]] TV sitcom ''[[7de Laan]]'' ("7th Avenue" - 2000-) has made him a household name in the country. He was also a director for the latter series until 2016. He directed about 700 episodes of this series.  He is scheduled to leave the series in August 2017. (News24 [http://www.msn.com/en-za/entertainment/topnews/oubaas-is-leaving-7de-laan-but-he-won%E2%80%99t-divorce-or-die/ar-BBDtu4j?li=AAaxc0E&ocid=spartanntp]).

In 2017 Van Pletzen became the first artist to appear on three different and competing TV channels simultaneously, starring in three different [[Afrikaans shows]], in different roles. (News24 [http://www.msn.com/en-za/entertainment/topnews/oubaas-is-leaving-7de-laan-but-he-won%E2%80%99t-divorce-or-die/ar-BBDtu4j?li=AAaxc0E&ocid=spartanntp]).

Film work includes roles in ''[[Panic Mechanic]]'' (1996), ''[[Orkney Snork Nie! 2 (nog 'n movie)]]'' (1993), ''[[Orkney Snork Nie! (die movie)]]'' (1992), ''[[Taxi to Soweto]]'' (1991), ''[[The Fourth Reich]]'' (1990), ''[[Windprints]]'' (1990), ''[[The Gods Must Be Crazy II]]'' (1989) as George, ''[[Oom]]'' performed at the [[Silwerskermfees]] in Camp's Bay (2016).   Also ''[[Phil101]]'', a TV series,

=== As translator ===

His many translations include ''[[My Boetie se Sussie se Ou]]'', an [[Afrikaans]] version of Ray Cooney's ''[[Caught in the Net]]'' 


===As lecturer===

Later taught at [[Pretoria Technikon]]’s Drama School. *  Became beloved national figure when he created the character “Oubaas” in the iconic Afrikaans TV sitcom ''Sewende Laan''. VAN PLETZEN, Pierre , Artistic Head of Drama, [[PACOFS]],+- 1985.

== Sources ==

https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_van_Pletzen

[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997. pp 468, 531.

http://www.litnet.co.za/my-boetie-se-sussie-se-ou-gaan-jou-laat-skaterlag-by-vanjaar-se-absa-kknk/

Mariette Snyman. 2016. "Kop in een mus", ''Rooi Rose'' September: pp. 32-33.

[[Beeld]], 5 Oktober 2016.

Go to the  [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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