Jackie Turnbull

Jackie Turnbull (1904-1982) was a child actor.

Biography

Born on 8 November 1904, John William Turnbull was the son of Arthur Turnbull, who had come to South Africa with an English regiment to fight in the Anglo-Boer War. His mother was Anna Cornelia van Wyk, who had actually spent some time in a concentration camp after the family farm had been razed. Through his father’s association with the Schlesinger organisation, Jackie came to the attention of African Film Productions and, as a child actor, featured in three films: De Voortrekkers (Harold M. Shaw/1916), in which he played Piet Retief’s son, The Symbol of Sacrifice (Dick Cruikshanks/1918) and The Voice of the Water (Joseph Albrecht/1918). In addition he appeared on the stage in Daddy Long-Legs (1918) and Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1918).

However, instead of following an acting career he became a solicitor and was eventually a senior partner in the law firm of Webber, Wentzel & Co. He died on 22 December 1982. Interestingly, his mother also had a small role in De Voortrekkers (as Mrs. N. Turnbull), while his younger sister, Muriel Turnbull (1909-1945), acted in the film A Border Scourge (Ralph Kimpton & Joseph Albrecht/1917).