Willie van Rensburg

Willie van Rensburg (fl. 1960-1980) was an actor, director and scriptwriter

Not to be confused with the Pretoria based fine artist Willie van Rensburg.

Biography

Born and raised in Kroonstad in the Orange Free State and joined a professional theatre group after school. This was followed by appearances in films such as Ruiter in die Nag and Stroper van die Laeveld, He also directed the photo story version of Die Geheim van Nantes.

Van Rensburg worked, among other things, as a news bulletin writer at the SABC and it was there that he began writing for radio, beginning with the immensely popular serial Dr. Marius Hugo and other his radio stories and work as a TV dubbing actor.

In 1967, Die Beeld published an article (written by Lorna Vosloo) about him to coincide with the debut of Dr. Marius Hugo in this newspaper as a photo story, after it had appeared in Sondagstem for two years. However, this paper was discontinued and Die Beeld took over — as a circulation builder in the paper’s fierce battle against Dagbreek and Landstem. Dr. Marius Hugo had already been a hit on Springbokradio for years and was also successfully published as a novel. The character Marius Hugo was close to Willie van Rensburg’s heart. He himself grew up poor and “always had a soft spot” for “the guy who had to start at the bottom”, Van Rensburg told Vosloo. The story, which was broadcast on Springbokradio in the mornings, always began with more or less the following introduction: “Dr. Marius Hugo, a man from the slums of Johannesburg who can look the world squarely in the eye.” Willie, according to the Beeld article, grew up in Kroonstad and joined a professional theatre group after school. This was followed by appearances in films such as Ruiter in die nag and Stropervan die Laeveld, his radio stories and work as a TV dubbing actor. He also directed the photo story version of Die geheim van Nantes. — JDF

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

As an actor

His film acting included appearances in:

Die Voortrekkers (1973), Ter Wille van Christine (1975), Vergeet My Nie (1975), 'n Beeld vir Jeannie (1976), Billyboy (1979), Kiepie en Kandas (1980),

Majuba: Heuwel van Duiwe, 1968 as Kommandant Smit The Second Sin, 1966 as die arresterende offisier Seven Against the Sun, 1964 as sers. Gibson Rider in the Night, 1963 Stropers van die Laeveld, 1962 En die Vonke Spat, 1961 Basie, 1961 Die Vlugteling, 1960 Fratse in die Vloot, 1958