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 Die Ruiter in die Nag and Stroper van die Laeveld, He also directed the photo story version of Die Geheim van Nantes.

Over the years, Van Rensburg worked, among other things, as a news bulletin writer at the SABC and later also working as a TV dubbing actor. It is in this phase of his career that he began writing for radio, starting with the immensely popular serial Dr. Marius Hugo, with many other radio stories and series to follow.

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

As a stage actor

As a film actor

Van Rensburg was an experienced actor and appeared in about 21 feature films, among them:

Fratse in die Vloo (1958), Die Vlugteling (1960), Basie (1961), En die Vonke Spat (1961), Stropers van die Laeveld (1962), Die Ruiter in die Nag (1963), Seven Against the Sun (1964), The Second Sin (1966), Majuba: Heuwel van Duiwe (1968), Die Voortrekkers (1973), Ter Wille van Christine (1975), Vergeet My Nie (1975), 'n Beeld vir Jeannie (1976), Billyboy (1979) and Kiepie en Kandas (1980),

The Second Sin, 1966 as die arresterende offisier

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

He was also the Afrikaans voice of John Thaw in the popular TV series Blitspatrollie.

As a writer

Novels and stories:

Dr Marius Hugo (1967), Die Banneling (1971), Die Wildtemmer (1973), Geluksdal (1974)

Radio scripts (single dramas and serials):

Dr. Marius Hugo, Die Windtemmer, Geluksdal (1974),

His stories were also published as photo stories in, for example, Die Beeld. He also adapted and directed the photo story version of the radio series Die Geheim van Nantes.

Film scripts

Die Banneling, (1971), Geluksdal (1974)