Pieter Hauptfleisch

Pieter Hauptfleisch (1923-1973) was an Afrikaans stage, radio and film actor.

Biography

Petrus Jacobus Hauptfleisch, the eldest son of Hester Elizabeth Maria (Beth) and Willem Carel Hauptfleisch, was born in Bloemfontein in 1923. He was educated at Grey College and, after qualifying as a type-setter, moved to Johannesburg to work in the printing industry. He worked actively as a part-time actor for most of his life.

He was married twice, first to Anna Louisa Cilliers in 1944 (divorced 1952) and then to Ada Marie Schutte (23 February 1926 – a teacher, playwright and author writing as Marie Schutte). With Ada Marie he had two sons involved in theatre, Gus Hauptfleisch and Conrad Hauptfleisch, as well as a daughter named Lana. Temple Hauptfleisch is his cousin.

Pieter Hauptfleisch committed suicide on 8 October 1973.

Acting career

Stage work

Did much stage work for amateur and professional companies. He is particularly well remembered for his portrayal of "Ou Karel Venter" in C.J. Langenhoven’s Die Laaste van die Takhare (JAATS, 195*; CAPAB, 1966), Die Volmaakte Moord (JAATS, 1952) Tom Weber's Bitter Einde (JAATS,1955); Die Lewe wat ek jou Gegee het (PACT, 1964); Fanny (Alexander Theatre, 1968);

Toward the end of his life, he toured the Transvaal and Free State with a caravan, doing a one-man show.

Radio work

Best known nationally in the 1950s and 1960s for his radio appearances, particularly for his leading roles in the a number of hugely successful Afrikaans radio serials – notably Die Du Plooys van Soetmelksvlei (mid to late 1950s) - satirically used by Pieter-Dirk Uys as a vehicle for his hugely popular and biting political satire Die Van Aardes van Grootoor), and Die Geheim van Nantes. Others include Die Banneling, Staal Burger,