Rufus Swart

BEING EDITED

There is some confusion about "Rufus Swart", for from the disparity in the sources seem to suggest that there may be TWO theatre and film personalities with South African links bearing this name.

Rufus Swart (1959-1994), film actor

Biography

According to a statement in IMDb and TVSA, repeated in several other sources, this actor was born in South Africa in 1959 and died in a car accident in Hawaii on February 17, 1994. No other confirmation of the latter date can however be found, except that provided by various movie databases. Some websites also have a supplementary note contesting this fact, suggesting that Rufus Swart is still alive and working in South Africa - i.e. that he is the same Rufus Swart discussed below.

Career

According to the movie websites e has had roles a number of films, including in Space Mutiny (1988, as "Steve Codell"), Captive Rage (1988, as "Eddie"); River of Death (1989, as "Pare"), Purgatory (1989), The House of Usher (1989), Massage in a Bottle (1993, as "Hollister"), Dust Devil (1993, as "Mark Robinson"), Cyborg Cop (1993, as "Cyborg").

Cyborg CopCyborg Cop (1993) Cyborg Dust DevilDust Devil (1992) Mark Robinson £4.3MM Sweet 'n ShortSweet 'n Short (1991) Longdrop Botha River of DeathRiver of Death (1989) Pare Arctic WarriorsArctic Warriors (1989) (Video) - Actor The House of UsherThe House of Usher (1989) Ryan Usher Blood RansomBlood Ransom (1988) Eddie Quest for LoveQuest for Love (1988) Writer (additional dialogue) PurgatoryPurgatory (1988) Paul Space MutinySpace Mutiny (1988) Steve Codell $398K $398K The Shadowed MindThe Shadowed Mind (1988) Paul, Writer GorGor (1987) Torm (uncredited) $160K $160K Boetie Gaan Border Toe!Boetie Gaan Border Toe! (1984) Lieutenant See all past film & video Past Television (6 titles) Episodes Sweating BulletsSweating Bullets (1993) (TV Series) - Hollister (1 episode, 1993) Massage in a Bottle (Jun 21, 1993) Season 3, Episode 22 - Hollister 1 Die SonkringDie Sonkring (1991) (TV Series) - Dekker Hattingh (1991) Die LosprysDie Losprys (1986) (TV Series) - Pieter Schoeman (1986) Skoolplaas-storiesSkoolplaas-stories (1985) (TV Series) - Franco Russos (1985) HerbergHerberg (1983) (TV Series) - Christo Werner (1983) Die Rooi KomplotDie Rooi Komplot (1983) (TV Series) - Francois Beyers (1983)

Sources

TVSA https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=17885.

https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba87d7433

https://www.themoviedb.org/person/236336-rufus-swart

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

Rufus Swart (1960-). South African actor, director, playwright and teacher.

Biography

Born in November 1960 in South Africa, he studied drama at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, (1981 – 82), completing a BA Dramatic Art there. He also began working as a professional actor, director and writer in South African entertainment industry (1981 – 1992), including a year with the PACT company in 1984. In this period he occasionally took breaks for further training in theatre and performance with organizations and individuals abroad, including two years Meisner training at Joanne Baron Studio in Los Angeles (1989 – 1990), workshops on Augusto Boal's approach in England (1999).

He relocated to the UK in 1992 and between 1992 – 2004 he held various managerial positions in the IT industry abroad and also founded a junior acting company HYP (for 16 – 30 year olds) in West Sussex, England, with council funding. They offered weekly workshops in movement, scene study, voice and technique (based on the Meisner approach). He also attended the Herbert Bergof Studio in New York on two occasions (1995 and 1997),

In 2003 he attended Griffith University, Australia, as part of an MA Drama (Coursework), indertaking literary research into actor training - a course for which he was awarded the Griffith Award for Academic Excellence. In 2005-2008 he then

In 2005 he registered for an MA Drama (Practice as Research) at the University of Kent, England, which he completed (cum laude) in 2008. While there he also acted as Senior Resident/Warden, looking after undergraduate and post graduate needs. In this period he took various additional practical workshops on aspects of theatre, inter alia participating in "Tracing Roads Across", a project by the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards and doing workshops on textual analysis with Patrice Pavis.

In 2009 he registered for doctoral study at Stellenbosch University, completing the study in 2014 with thesis called Towards An Integrated Theory of Actor Training : Conjunctio Oppositorum and The Importance of Dual Consciousness. While studying he also taught acting classes. Subsequently appointed a senior lecturer in the department.

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

Theatre

According to his own curriculum vitae, Rufus Swart performed in ten student productions before turning professional.

He also performed in a number of workshop productions based on high school set works whilst a repertory player with the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT) in ’84, including Macbeth. He acted in Superheroes at the Market Theatre in the early 1980s and as “Maxime” in Hotel Paradiso (PACT 1984), in William M. Hoffman’s As Is which was directed by Janice Honeyman in 1986, Carvings of Conflict (for CAPAB at the 1987 Grahamstown Festival) and in Corpse! 1987.

He wrote the play Let the Spear Fit the Wound and is a co-writer of 'n Skewe Sirkel.

Rufus directed a student production of Roep van die Naguiltjie in 2010.

Film

The website TVSA lists a number of films he appeared in, including Boetie Gaan Border Toe!, Space Mutiny, Purgatory, Captive Rage, The Shadowed Mind (wrote screenplay, played "Paul", 1988); The House of Usher; River of Death, Sweet 'n Short, Dust Devil and Cyborg Cop.

He directed and starred in Softer than Rock, 1990.

TV

On television he is best known for his starring role as "Dekker Hattingh" in the TV1 drama series Sonkring, from 1991-1993. Other television series he has acted in include Die Rooi Komplot, Skoolplaas Stories, Ouens Soos Ons, Slimjanne, and Tropical Heat.

In later years he has guest starred in numerous television series including the role of Yster in the kykNET drama series Vloeksteen]], appearing in Season 1, Episode 2, which aired on 24 April, 2012.

The following year he guest starred in the kykNET crime drama anthology series Die Boland Moorde, playing the role of "Pierre" in Season 1, Episode 4 (which aired on 23 April, 2013).

Rufus next guest starred as Louis Saunders in the kykNET drama series Die Byl, appearing in Season 1, Episode 5 (which aired on 9 August, 2016).

Drama lecturer

While studying for his doctorate, he was a also a part-time lecturer in the Drama Department of Stellenbosch University (from 2008 till 201*), and on completing the thesis was appointed as a senior lecturer in acting practice. He left in 20**, to return to a free-lance career.

Sources

CV of Rufus Swart (2008 student file, University of Stellenbosch)

Tucker, 1997. 451.

TVSA https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=17885.

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

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