A.M. Burger

A.M. Burger (1906-1967) was an Afrikaans actor and writer for stage and radio, translator, journalist.

Also known as Apie Burger.

Biography

He was born in Malmesbury, 17 August 1906, studied at the University of Stellenbosch. Married to actress Anna Richter-Visser, and the couple had four children.

He passed away in Smithfield on 20 April, 1967

Training

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

Stage roles

As a member of the Unie-Debatsvereniging in Stellenbosch, he performed in Op die regte oomblik (1926), Koringboere (1926), **. As a member of Kaapstadse Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging (K.A.T.) in Cape Town, he performed in Ruwe Erts (H.A. Fagan, 1934), Ousus (H.A. Fagan, 1935), Gebroke Drade (Jochem van Bruggen, 1936), Die Heks (Louis Leipold, 1936),**. He also translated plays into Afrikaans, i.a. A.J.A. Wilson's The Paper Knife (as Die Papiermes, K.A.T., 1937), *

Radio work

He started out in radio setting up the first Cape Town broadcasting studio with director Douglas Fuchs in 1930s.

Particularly well known in the country for writing and performing in the popular Afrikaans radio comedy series of the 1950s, including Kriekbult Roep ("Cricket hill calls") and Die Ridders van die Mielieblaarklub ("The Knights of the Mealie-leaf Club") (also simply referred to as Die Mielieblaarklub) - the latter eventually ran for had more than 600 episodes (1950-79).