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, initally as a member of the PACT Youth Group and later as part of the influentual Afrikaans company led by Francois Swart and including Wilna Snyman, Louis van Niekerk, Marius Weyers and Sandra Prinsloo.

He also 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

In his student years he played a leading roles in Elektra (1966), Ou Sjinese Legende and Lappieskombers (both part of the programme Drama Drie in 1967).

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).

He initially did some backstage work for PACT, but gradually established himself as a versatile actor.

Productions he appeared in for PACT over the next decade or so included Sextet 69 (1969), Sirkusavontuur (1969), Kinkels in die Kabel (1970), Mattewis en Meraai (1970), Vrede Tuis (1971), Die Bekentenis (1971), Distrik Ses - Revue (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).

For SWAPAC he appeared in Die Huigelaar (1981),

Television

Though he did other TV work before, including roles in a number of series and TV films, and directing the Afrikaans dubbing of popular series like Mirage(1976), Pippi Langkous (1978), he really became nationally known when he created 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: Kavalier Storm (), Dis Koud Hier (1976), TJ7 (1978), Phoenix en Kie (1978).

Film

Had many roles in films, including Forgotten Summer (a film version of Dick Findlay's Afrikaans play Bitter Lied van die Somer in 1970), and Afrikaans films such as 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)

Awards, etc

Winner of the 1983 The Star Tonight Award and the SABC Artes Award (aka simply as Artes Award) for Best Actor.

Sources

George Ballot scrapbooks. (Provisionally held in the ESAT Archive, with the kind permission of Prof Muller Ballot[1] and consulted 2024-1925).

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

Limelight 1978/79; 1983/84.

Frans Fourie. 1976. "Só word TV-programme oorgeklank", Die Huisgenoot, 18 June: pp. 18-21.

Frans Fourie. 1976. "Mirage se man maak geskiedenis", Die Huisgenoot, 17 December.

https://www.netwerk24.com/netwerk24/nuus/mense/hulde-gebring-na-dood-van-vyfster-akteur-george-ballot-20231004

"Skoppensboer", Die Burger Aktueel, 27 December, 2023: p. 7[2]

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