Sann de Lange

(b. Koster, 04/10/1913 – d. Roodepoort, 31/05/1999). Also credited as San de Lange and Sanna de Lange (once).

Gertruida Susanna Catharina (or Susanna Gertruida Katarina) de Lange made her first stage appearance when she was eighteen and had a career that lasted for more than forty-five years. Initially she was a member of the company of Jan Plaat-Stultjes and after his death in 1934 she came with Elsa Fouché when the latter joined Hendrik Hanekom. When her friend formed the Elsa Fouché Toneelgeselskap, Sann de Lange was part of the company. She and Elsa directed Pollie, Ons Gaan Pêrel Toe for Benn Potgieter and Sann was in Andromache for the Johannesburgse Afrikaanse Amateur Toneelspelers (JAATS). For a number of years she toured with the Afrikaans company of the National Theatre Organisation (NTO) and also acted for PACT/TRUK.

Her first screen role was in Die Bou van ‘n Nasie (Joseph Albrecht & Andries A. Pienaar/1938), in which she played the role of Rev. Owen’s wife in the Afrikaans-language version of the film. From 1960 onwards, she was permanently in demand as a character actress and featured in some 48 films, as well as in various television dramas and series. With the possible exception of the two Tant Ralie films, in which she played Wena Naudé’s friend and rival, she seldom had starring roles, but she was much loved in parts such as that of Tant Betta in the television series Nommer Asseblief. She worked more than once with directors like Jamie Uys, Jan Perold, Al Debbo, Elmo de Witt, Richard Daneel, Koos Roets, Ivan Hall and Franz Marx.

In 1937 she had married fellow actor Morné Coetzer, who was also a member of the Elsa Fouché company. He died in 1972 and the couple had three children – Morné, Leira and Hermas. Morné Coetzer Jr. became a well-known actor, television presenter and director. Sann de Lange died at the age of 86 at the old age home in Roodepoort where she was a resident. (FO)