Sam Williams
Sam Mabhaso Williams (1928-2007) was a South African composer, stage and television actor, director, singer and dancer.
Contents
Biography
He died in March 2007 and was buried in Kliptown. His daughter Magi Williams is an actress and playwright.
Youth
Training
Career
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
In the 1960's he formed an a cappella band called the Boston Brothers. He was a member of the Phoenix Players.
He directed Phiri, The Question, A Matter of Convenience (1975) and Children of the Twilight. Performed in Waiting for Godot.
He played for Benjy Francis in Fugard’s The Blood Knot and Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (“Vladimir”, Upstairs at the Market). ***
He starred in Barney Simon’s production of Cincinatti – Scenes from City Life together with Marcel van Heerden, Danny Keogh, Lesley Nott, Barrie Shah, Thoko Ntshinga, Bo Petersen, Vanessa Cooke and Robin Smith for The Company at the Market Theatre, Upstairs at the Market, the Baxter Theatre and the Brooke Theatre in 1979.
Report to an Academy, National Arts Festival 1990. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1993).
He had a role in The Good Woman of Sharkville 1996.
Sam played Bra Darkie in the television series Velaphi and he appeared in the feature film Game for Vultures.
Awards, etc
In July 2005 he was honoured at the Living Legend Awards organised by the United Theatre Practitioners of South Africa (UTP) at the Windybrow Theatre in Johannesburg.
Sources
SACD 1978/79; 1979/80.
Tucker, 1997.
City Press, 26 June 2005.
The Star, 6 March 2007.
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