Darlington Michaels
Darlington Michaels (1946?-2024) was a stage, film and TV actor.
Contents
Biography
Born Teboho Ndarana in Pimville, Soweto, he grew up in a household influenced by a mix of cultures, with a Lesotho mother and a father from East London. According his obituary, it is believed that the surname Michaels from his grandfather, a "coloured" man.
His family later relocated to the culturally rich environment of Sophiatown neighbourhood, before moving to White City.
He began his acting career as a teenager during the Apartheid years, joining the legendary Gibson Kente's company, later moving on to film and TV, becoming a household name for his portrayla of Georgie "Papa G" Zamdela on the long-running soap opera Isidingo.
He passed away on 14 September, 2024 after a short illness.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
He joined Gibson Kente’s company as a teenager. He performed in How Long?, I Believe, Beyond a Song and Mama and the Load.
Together with McIntosh Khoale, Michaels formed a group called Melisizwe Community Theatre.They wrote, directed and acted in The Eye (1982).
Michaels appeared in Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena at the State Theatre (1983).
In 1984, he wrote and starred in a politically charged play titled Survival, which highlighted the harsh realities of apartheid-era prison systems.
He created the production Ababhemi with Duma Mnembe in 1988.
He has appeared in a number of TV shows, including: Chandies, Gaz'lam, How to Ruin Christmas, Isidingo, The Road, Vula Vala.
Sources
Andile Xaba. 2021. 'Collective memory and the construction of a historical narrative, analysis and interpretation of selected Soweto-based community plays (1984–1994)'. Unpublished PhD thesis.
https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3087
TVSA [1]
Kaunda Selisho. 2024. Obituary: Celebrating the life and legacy of Darlington Michaels, South Africa's beloved 'Papa G' News24 15 September 2024. [2]
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