Difference between revisions of "Ian von Memerty"
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| − | [[Ian von Memerty]] ( | + | [[Ian von Memerty]] (1964-2026) is a Zimbabwean-born actor, singer, musician, director, playwright, choreographer, writer, compiler. |
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Born in Harare, Zimbabwe on 4 July 1964. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Married to [[Vivienne Lawrence]]. They have two children, [[Oscar von Memerty]] and [[Kasvia von Memerty]]. Their first daughter, Valeska, died in 1998. | ||
| + | |||
| + | He died in Johannesburg by his own hand on 23 February 2026. Prior to his death, he had shared in his Facebook series, ''Dying for a Better Life'', his fears about ageing, losing independence and wanting control over his end-of-life decisions. | ||
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| − | ==As actor== | + | ===As actor/presenter=== |
| + | |||
| + | ====Stage==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | As a stage performer he has won numerous nominations and awards for his work in ''[[Six of the Best]]'', ''[[Crazy for You]]'', ''[[Captain Entertainment]]'', ''[[Big Band Blast]]'', ''[[Femme Fatale]]'' and ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | He starred in [[Shirley Firth]]’s production of Neil Simon’s ''[[Brighton Beach Memoirs]]'' directed by [[Louis Burke]] at the [[André HuguenetTheatre]] in 1986. He starred in ''[[A Touch of Webber...A Taste of Rice]]'' at the [[Sound Stage Supper Theatre]] from 1991 to 1992. He starred in Richard O’Brien’s ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' in 1992. Performed in and wrote ''[[A Handful of Keys]]'' together with [[Bryan Schimmel]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Other productions include ''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]'', ''[[Mame]]'', ''[[Brighton Beach Memoirs]]'', ''[[True Confusions]]'' ([[Janice Honeyman]]) [[Market Theatre]] (1984), ''[[Leader of the Pack]]'' (musical, 1995), ''[[Celebration]]'', ''[[Camelot]]'', ''[[Return to the Forbidden Planet]]'', among others. He starred in [[Sun City]]'s stage extravaganza ''[[Viva Sun City]]''. | ||
| − | === | + | ====Television==== |
| − | |||
| − | + | Television appearance in M-Net's New Year's Eve ''Outrageous'' party; featured singer in the 1993 Miss SA pageant. | |
| − | Television appearance in M-Net's New Year's Eve ''Outrageous'' party; featured singer in the 1993 Miss SA pageant | ||
| − | + | He hosted ''[[Muzik a la Carte]]'', co-hosted (with [[Sandy Ngema]]) the [[SABC2]] reality dance competition ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' (2006-2008) and was a judge on ''[[SA's Got Talent]]'' (2009-2012). | |
| − | ==As director== | + | ===As director/choreographer=== |
He has directed a number of productions, including: | He has directed a number of productions, including: | ||
| Line 23: | Line 35: | ||
2002: ''[[Umoja – The Spirit of Togetherness]]'' | 2002: ''[[Umoja – The Spirit of Togetherness]]'' | ||
| − | 2006: ''[[Grease]]'' | + | 2006: ''[[Grease]]'' ([[Barnyard Theatre Group]]) |
| + | |||
| + | ''[[The Rocky Horror Show]]'' ([[Barnyard Theatre Group]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''[[Here, There and Everywhere]]'' (choreography) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''[[Buddy]]'' ([[Barnyard Theatre Group]]) | ||
| − | ==As playwright/composer== | + | ===As creator/playwright/composer=== |
He has written score and/or script for several original stage musicals and devised several shows, including: | He has written score and/or script for several original stage musicals and devised several shows, including: | ||
| − | ''[[Fiela's Child]]'' (1999) | + | * ''[[A Handful of Keys]]'' (with [[Bryan Schimmel]] and [[Malcolm Terrey]], 1994) |
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[Fiela's Child]]'' (musical, 1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[Umoja – The Spirit of Togetherness]]'' (text, 2002) | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[Jump for Joy!]]'' (musical, 2006) | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[The Heart is Round]]'' (musical) | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[Ticket to Ride]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[Cadenza]]'' (for [[Rory Rootenberg]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[Rock-a-Tutu]]'' (for [[SA Ballet Theatre]]) | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[Big Band Blast]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | * ''[[Two Thin Men Sing]]'' | ||
| − | ''[[ | + | * ''[[Broadway Rocks]]'' ([[Barnyard Theatre Group]]) |
| − | ''[[ | + | * ''[[Hollywood Rocks]]'' ([[Barnyard Theatre Group]]) |
| − | ''[[ | + | * ''[[Rock Me Amadeus]]'' ([[Barnyard Theatre Group]]) |
| − | + | * ''[[Roll Over Beethoven]]'' ([[Barnyard Theatre Group]]) | |
| − | ''[[ | + | * ''[[Glory Days]]'' ([[Barnyard Theatre Group]]) |
| + | |||
| + | Composer of various numbers for the TV show, ''[[Muzik a la Carte]]''. | ||
== Awards, etc. == | == Awards, etc. == | ||
| + | |||
| + | He has received 15 national theatre awards, been nominated a further 17 times. | ||
| + | |||
[[Vita Award]] (National) 1995 as one of the best performers of the year in musical theatre. | [[Vita Award]] (National) 1995 as one of the best performers of the year in musical theatre. | ||
| Line 50: | Line 91: | ||
''[[A Handful of Keys]]'' programme notes in 1994. | ''[[A Handful of Keys]]'' programme notes in 1994. | ||
| − | [[Beeld]], 12 August, 1995. | + | ''[[Beeld]]'', 12 August, 1995. |
| − | [[ | + | [[Percy Tucker]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]]. |
https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3076 | https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3076 | ||
| Line 58: | Line 99: | ||
Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue. | Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue. | ||
| − | + | http://www.gigster.co.za/artists/ian-von-memerty/. | |
| + | |||
| + | [[F.C. Pelser]]. 2026. "Om te sterf vir 'n beter lewe", ''[[Die Burger]]'' 2 March 2026: p.3 | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Garrin Lambley]]. 2026. "Breaking | Ian von Memerty commits suicide at Johannesburg hotel". ''[[The South African]]'' 2 March, 2026.[https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/breaking-ian-von-memerty-commits-suicide-at-johannesburg-hotel/ar-AA1Xjgeg?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=69a50ffc6d7c407c977a0df4e9396332&ei=21] | ||
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
Latest revision as of 12:01, 2 March 2026
Ian von Memerty (1964-2026) is a Zimbabwean-born actor, singer, musician, director, playwright, choreographer, writer, compiler.
Contents
Biography
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe on 4 July 1964.
Married to Vivienne Lawrence. They have two children, Oscar von Memerty and Kasvia von Memerty. Their first daughter, Valeska, died in 1998.
He died in Johannesburg by his own hand on 23 February 2026. Prior to his death, he had shared in his Facebook series, Dying for a Better Life, his fears about ageing, losing independence and wanting control over his end-of-life decisions.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
As actor/presenter
Stage
As a stage performer he has won numerous nominations and awards for his work in Six of the Best, Crazy for You, Captain Entertainment, Big Band Blast, Femme Fatale and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
He starred in Shirley Firth’s production of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs directed by Louis Burke at the André HuguenetTheatre in 1986. He starred in A Touch of Webber...A Taste of Rice at the Sound Stage Supper Theatre from 1991 to 1992. He starred in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show in 1992. Performed in and wrote A Handful of Keys together with Bryan Schimmel.
Other productions include Fiddler on the Roof, Mame, Brighton Beach Memoirs, True Confusions (Janice Honeyman) Market Theatre (1984), Leader of the Pack (musical, 1995), Celebration, Camelot, Return to the Forbidden Planet, among others. He starred in Sun City's stage extravaganza Viva Sun City.
Television
Television appearance in M-Net's New Year's Eve Outrageous party; featured singer in the 1993 Miss SA pageant.
He hosted Muzik a la Carte, co-hosted (with Sandy Ngema) the SABC2 reality dance competition Strictly Come Dancing (2006-2008) and was a judge on SA's Got Talent (2009-2012).
As director/choreographer
He has directed a number of productions, including:
1999: Fiela's Child - The Musical
2002: Umoja – The Spirit of Togetherness
2006: Grease (Barnyard Theatre Group)
The Rocky Horror Show (Barnyard Theatre Group)
Here, There and Everywhere (choreography)
Buddy (Barnyard Theatre Group)
As creator/playwright/composer
He has written score and/or script for several original stage musicals and devised several shows, including:
- A Handful of Keys (with Bryan Schimmel and Malcolm Terrey, 1994)
- Fiela's Child (musical, 1999)
- Umoja – The Spirit of Togetherness (text, 2002)
- Jump for Joy! (musical, 2006)
- The Heart is Round (musical)
- Cadenza (for Rory Rootenberg)
- Rock-a-Tutu (for SA Ballet Theatre)
Composer of various numbers for the TV show, Muzik a la Carte.
Awards, etc.
He has received 15 national theatre awards, been nominated a further 17 times.
Vita Award (National) 1995 as one of the best performers of the year in musical theatre.
Naledi Award 2003: Best performance in musical for Big band blast.
Sources
A Handful of Keys programme notes in 1994.
Beeld, 12 August, 1995.
Percy Tucker 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.
https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3076
Various entries in the NELM catalogue.
http://www.gigster.co.za/artists/ian-von-memerty/.
F.C. Pelser. 2026. "Om te sterf vir 'n beter lewe", Die Burger 2 March 2026: p.3
Garrin Lambley. 2026. "Breaking | Ian von Memerty commits suicide at Johannesburg hotel". The South African 2 March, 2026.[1]
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