Darlington Michaels

Darlington Michaels (1946?-2024) was a stage, film and TV actor.

Biography

Born Teboho Ndarana in Pimville, Soweto, he grew up in a household influenced by a mix of cultures, with a Lesotho mother and a father from East London. According his obituary, it is believed that the surname Michaels from his grandfather, a "coloured" man.

His family later relocated to the culturally rich environment of Sophiatown neighbourhood, before moving to White City.

He began his acting career as a teenager during the Apartheid years, joining the legendary Gibson Kente's company, later moving on to film and TV, becoming a household name for his portrayla of Georgie "Papa G" Zamdela on the long-running soap opera Isidingo.

He passed away on 14 September, 2024 after a short illness, survived by his wife, two children, and six grandchildren.

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

Stage work

His stage work began when he joined Gibson Kente’s company as a teenager, performing in works such as How Long?, I Believe, Beyond a Song and Mama and the Load.

In 1982 Michaels and McIntosh Khoale formed a group called Melisizwe Community Theatre for which they wrote, directed and acted in The Eye (1982). This later became Melisizwe Productions. Specialising in community theatre, the company uses the arts to educate and inspire young people, mainly through productions that addressed social issues such as substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.

Michaels appeared in Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena at the State Theatre (1983).

In 1984, he starred in a production of Survival, which highlighted the harsh realities of apartheid-era prison systems. (His 2024 obituary in wrongly claims that he had also written the play).

He created the production Ababhemi with Duma Mnembe in 1988.

TV and Film Work

He has appeared in a number of TV shows over the years, including: Chandies (2012), Gaz'lam, How to Ruin Christmas, Isidingo, The Road, Vula Vala.

Film work includes appearances in Strike Force (1986), Mapantsula (1988), Hearts & Minds (1995), and Cry, the Beloved Country (1995).

Sources

Andile Xaba. 2021. 'Collective memory and the construction of a historical narrative, analysis and interpretation of selected Soweto-based community plays (1984–1994)'. Unpublished PhD thesis.

https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3087

TVSA [1]

Kaunda Selisho. 2024. Obituary: Celebrating the life and legacy of Darlington Michaels, South Africa's beloved 'Papa G' News24 15 September 2024. [2]

https://www.facebook.com/MelisizweCommunityTheatre/

Andile Xaba. 2022. "Writing the Elusive Narrative of Soweto-Based Community Theatre, 1984-1994" Journal of Literary Studies Vol.38 n.4[3]

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