Mieder Olivier

Mieder Olivier (b. **/**/1954) is an actor and producer.

Biography

Mieder Olivier may have been born in Delmas, where his father was a Dutch Reformed Church minister before the family moved to Potchefstroom in 1960 (the suburb of Miederpark is named after him). After matric he obtained a BA Honours in Drama at the University of Pretoria, where he first appeared on the stage in plays like Bitter Lied van die Somer and Come Back, Little Sheba, both in 1977. However, his big success came when he was cast in the title role of Dr. Marius Hugo (1978), the film version of a popular radio serial.

This was followed by two more films, some stage appearances and a number of television series. He also appeared on radio, notably as the detective in Leon van Nierop’s Wolwedans in die Skemer (1980-1982). In addition he produced and directed a television documentary on the poet T.T. Cloete entitled Die Heelal in ‘n Taalkristal (1991). Gradually he switched to production and in October 1999 his company Filmmedia took over the television magazine programme Pasella from its originator, Pieter Cilliers.

Credits

Theatre

1977 – Bitter Lied van die Somer (Director: Hannes Horne for Department of Drama, University of Pretoria), 1977 – Come Back, Little Sheba'' (Director: Hannes Horne for Department of Drama, University of Pretoria), 1979 – Soldatevryers (Director: David van der Merwe for PACT), 1980 – Kom Terug, Klein Sheba (Director: Francois Swart for PACT), 1982 – My Engel (Produced by Theatron at the Arena Theatre).

Film

1978 – Dr. Marius Hugo (Director: Tim Spring), 1981 – Kiepie & Kandas (Director: Jan Scholtz), 1981 – Beloftes van Môre (Director: Daan Retief).

Television

1980 – Bosveldwinkel (TV series) (Director: Fred Nel), 1983 – Kromburg (TV series) (Director: Daan Retief), 1983 – Dennekruin 12 (TV series) (Director: Danie Odendaal), 1984 – Hello Blikbrein Italic text– Series 1 (TV educational series) (Director: Willie Esterhuizen), 1985 – Seeduiker (TV series) (Director: Jan Engelen) (as assistant director with Graham Hickson), 1987 – Die Seders van Lebanon (TV series) (Director: Daan Retief), 1991 – Die Heelal in ‘n Taalkristal (TV documentary) (as producer and director, as well as research and text with Dr. Heilna du Plooy).