Danny Keogh

Danny Keogh (19**-). Actor on stage and screen, stage manager, playwright.

Biography

Born in Uganda of Irish descent. He is married to the actress Michele Burgers.

Career

Danny Keogh was a founder member of the legendary Market Theatre Company. "We did everything ... sent out circulars, scraped the walls, scrubbed the floors, built the dressing rooms". That was in 1973. He now has over 50 mainstream theatre productions to his credit, a career that includes writing awards for both theatre and feature film, aside from numerous television and feature film acting credits. For somebody who never wanted to be an actor, he has a remarkable career.

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

One of the founding members of The Company, he was the stage manager for the 1976 fundraising production for the Market Theatre.

His major acting roles include Fortune and Men's Eyes (1975), The Seagull (Upstairs at the Market Theatre, 1976), Selle ou storie (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1975), Our Town, Grease, Long Day's Journey into Night (1978), Ibchek (1979), Cincinatti – Scenes from City Life (1979), A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (1980), Oedipus by Ted Hughes (1980), People Too (pre-1982), Forbidden Fruits (1983/4), Torch Song Trilogy (1984),One for the Road (1985), Judgement (1985), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (1986), Comedians, People are Living There, Cold Stone Jug, Entertaining Mr Sloane (1986), Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1986), Burn This (1989), Ghetto in 1991, The Story of Margaret Harding (1991).

His theatre career continues with leading roles in productions such as Pale Natives (1994), Cuba and His Teddy Bear (1995).

As writer he was the co-author of This is for Keeps (1983) and of The Native Who Caused All the Trouble .

Film credits include Hearts & Minds and Jump the Gun, The Schoolmaster, Tornado and the Kalahari Horse Whisperer (2009). He has made guest appearances in the international television series Tarzan, Sinbad, Konig and The Professionals.

He also performed in Marat/Sade (as “Duperret”), Don't Drink the Water (as “Krojak”) and in The Death of Bessie Smith (as “Intern”).

Awards

With 22 Best Actor nominations and 4 Best Actor awards to his credit, Danny Keogh has become an acting legend.

He won Vita and DALRO awards for his performance in John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at the Laager in 1986.

Best supporting actor as Officer van Zyl in The Story of Margaret Harding, (IGI Life Vita 1991/1992 Regional Awards, Transvaal).

He was a joint winner of the Amstel Playwright of the Year Award in 1985 for The Native Who Caused All the Trouble.

Sources

Tucker, 1997; Schwartz, 1988.

SACD 1977/78; 1978/79.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

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