George Ballot

George Ballot (1946-2023) was a stage, film and TV actor.

Biography

Born on 3 September, 1946, he studied drama at the University of Pretoria, and began work with PACT in Pretoria in 1968, as part of the influentual Afrikaans company led by Francois Swart and including Wilna Snyman, Louis van Niekerk, Marius Weyers and Sandra Prinsloo.

He later branched out to radio, TV and film, becoming a household name for his work in the TV series Vyfster.

In the 1990s Ballot retired to Cape Town, where he ran an art gallery and did the occasional radio, TV and later even stage work. He then settled in Riebeeck Wes in the Cape, where he passed away on 2 October, 2023, aged 77.

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

Theatre

He played in a PACT Children's Theatre production of Jack and the Turtle Doves in July 1968 followed by a PACT Youth Drama production of Professor Poffel en Professor Moffel (1968).

Productions for PACT over the next decade or so included Sextet 69 (1969), Sirkusavontuur (1969), Kinkels in die Kabel (1970), Mattewis en Meraai (1970), Die Bekentenis (1971), Siener in die Suburbs (1971), Hotel Paradiso (1971), Vrede Tuis (1971), Maria Stuart (1972), Kamer 99 (1972), Ampie Oppie Diekens (1972), Die Seemeeu (1972), Die Weerstaanbare Opkoms van Arturo Ui (1973), Toiings (1973), Theodora (1974), Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey (1975), 'n Seder val in Waterkloof (1975), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1975), Saterdag, Sondag, Maandag (1978), Brothers (1984).

For CAPAB he has appeared in Vrede (1983), Kermis op Koekenmoer (1983), En Dit Was Môre (1985), Die Park (1990).

Television

Though he did other TV work before, he really became nationally known when he created the the endearing yet complex criminal character “Skollie” in the acclaimed and popular TV series Vyfster (1984), and its sequels on film. Other TV roles include: TJ7 (1978).

Film

Had many roles in the early Afrikaans films, including Bitter Lied van die Somer (1970), Die Sersant en die Tiger Moth (1974), Geluksdal (1974), Tant Ralie se Losieshuis (1974)Vergeet My Nie (1975), Blink Stefaans (1981), Die Groen Faktor (1984), Skollie (1984), Vyfster: Die Slot (1985), Sarahsarà (1994), Styx (video 2002)