Ernst Eloff

Ernst Eloff. (1942-2010). Afrikaans actor, director, translator.

Biography

Ernst was born in Upington and grew up in Paarl. He enjoyed reading, classical music, cooking and gardening and was a great cat lover. He died in Johannesburg in May 2010, aged 68.

Training

He graduated with a BA degree from the University of Stellenbosch. He has been overseas a couple of times to study the European theatre.

Career

He joined the NTO Youth Theatre which visited schools, performing prescribed books. He was in the first PACT drama group when it was formed in 1963, and that of CAPAB in 1964, later joining Jannie Gildenhuys at PACOFS. Ernst worked on and off for all the regional councils and performed in about 280 productions and directed about 20.

Ernst once had his own troupe. ** 'n toneelgeselskap is die Ernst Eloff Toneelgeselskap, wat in 1994 gestig is nadat ***

He broke away from the theatre in the 70's and 80's and managed the Penny Farthing Restaurant in George.

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

For PACOFS he played in Romeo and Juliet, Pase, My Vrou se Man se Vrou, The Maids, Die Keiser, Flikflooie, Equus, as Sweeney

CAPAB Rashomon 1964, Die Patatta 1965, Amadeus.

He was in the cast of two productions of Die Teken (1985 and 1986).

Other stage roles were in productions of Macbeth, Christine, Dokter teen Wil en Dank, Gilgamesh, Faan se Stasie, Die Keiser, 'n Lam vir die Pase, Die Loodswaaiers, Die Man met 'n Lyk om sy Nek, Nag, Generaal, Maria Stuart, Vettie, Vettie, Die Nag van Legio, Hamlet, Dear Mrs Steyn, Sweet Sorrows, Die Kwinkslaers and Gulls (1991).

He directed The House of Blue Leaves, So Long vir Johnny, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds, Slave Trade.

He translated Huis Clos into Afrikaans as Agter Geslote Deure.

He has performed in many Radio and Television dramas and series and acted in 15 films, among them Paljas.

Awards, etc

He received many awards and received the Piers Nicholson Award twice.

Nominated Best Actor Free State Vitas, 1995 for his role in Die Kwinkslaers

He received a Vita Award (Free State region) as best actor for his role in Gulls 1992.

Nominated Ernst Eloff Company for `Die kwinkslaers';

Sources

Various entries in the NELM catalogue, e.g. photographs of several PACOFS productions.

The Citizen, 16 July 1994.

Die Burger, 28 May 2010.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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