Difference between revisions of "Bill Flynn"

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'''FLYNN, William "Bill"''' (13 December 1948 – 11 July 2007) was a South African actor and comedian. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Flynn]
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[[Bill Flynn|William "Bill" Flynn]] (13 December 1948 – 11 July 2007) was a South African actor, comedian, dramatist, director and rock band member. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Flynn].
 
 
Actor, comedian, dramatist, director and rock band member
 
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
Born in Ysterplaat, Cape Town and attended Plumstead primary and high schools. Studied drama at the University of Cape Town  and Born in Cape Town and matriculated from Plumstead High School.
+
He was born in Ysterplaat, Cape Town and attended Plumstead primary and high schools.
 
+
He was married twice, first to [[Anne Power]] and later to [[Jana Cilliers]]. Bill died in Johannesburg of an apparent heart attack in July 2007 at the age of 58.
He was married twice, first to [[Anne Power]] and later to [[Jana Cilliers]]. Died in Johannesburg of an apparent heart attack in July 2007 at the age of 58.
 
  
 
=== Training ===
 
=== Training ===
Studied at the [[University of Cape Town Drama Department]] under [[Robert Mohr]] and [[Mavis Taylor]] (BA in English and Drama).
+
He studied at the [[University of Cape Town Drama Department]] under [[Robert Mohr]] and [[Mavis Taylor]] (BA in English and Drama).
  
 
=== Career ===
 
=== Career ===
Line 18: Line 15:
 
He joined the [[Market Theatre]]'s [[The Company]] in 1975.
 
He joined the [[Market Theatre]]'s [[The Company]] in 1975.
  
Besides working regularly with Slabolepszy, the 1980s saw Flynn also working for [[Pieter Toerien]]. As he gained weight and lost hair, he endeared himself to the public as a comedian and worked widely on stage, film and TV. However, in 2000/1 Flynn made a resounding comeback as a serious actor in what must be the finest theatre production of the year, playing “Willy Loman” in Miller’s [[Death of a Salesman]] at the [[Grahamstown Festival]], then touring the country.
+
Besides working regularly with Slabolepszy, the 1980s saw Flynn also working for [[Pieter Toerien]]. As he gained weight and lost hair, he endeared himself to the public as a comedian and worked widely on stage, film and TV. However, in 2000/1 Flynn made a resounding comeback as a serious actor in what must be the finest theatre production of the year, playing “Willy Loman” in Miller’s ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'' at the [[Grahamstown Festival]], then touring the country.
  
 
He was also a talented singer and sang everything from comedy opera to rock ’n roll. After his years with ''Vinnie and the Viscounts'', his next band, ''The Rock Rebels'', developed a committed group of followers.  
 
He was also a talented singer and sang everything from comedy opera to rock ’n roll. After his years with ''Vinnie and the Viscounts'', his next band, ''The Rock Rebels'', developed a committed group of followers.  
 
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
1975 ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]'' and ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]''.  1979 for ''[[Play it again, Sam]]'' in Johannesburg. 
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=== As actor ===
Also performed in
+
Bill has appeared on stage in productions of ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]''1975, ''[[Enemy – An Anti-War Collage]]'',  
''[[Enemy]]'',  
 
 
''[[People are Living There]]'',  
 
''[[People are Living There]]'',  
 
''[[Long Day's Journey into Night]]'',  
 
''[[Long Day's Journey into Night]]'',  
Line 41: Line 36:
 
''[[Playland]]''.
 
''[[Playland]]''.
  
In addition he did ''[[Popcorn]]'' ([[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], 1973), ''[[Ruffian on the Stair]]'', ''[[School Play]]'', ''[[Skyvers/Jollers]]'', ''[[Superman]]'', ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]'']]'', ''[[A Touch of 1900s]]'', ''[[We Bombed in New Haven]]'', ''[[What the Butler Saw]]'', ''[[Workplay]]'', ''[[You’ll Come (chuckle) to Love Your ????? (snigger) Test]]'', ''[[After Liverpool]]'', ''[[Ashes]]'', ''[[Don't Walk About with Nothing On]]'', ''[[Drivers]]'', ''[[Enemy]]'', ''[[The Four Seasons]]'', ''[[Fragments]]'', ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'', ''[[Going to Pot]]'', ''[[The Happy Prince]]'', ''[[I'll Ring for more Toast]]'', ''[[The Indian wants the Bronx]]'', ''[[Madly in Love]]'', ''[[Muzeeka]]'' and ''[[Outcry]]''.  
+
In addition he did ''[[Popcorn]]'' ([[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], 1973), ''[[Ruffian on the Stair]]'', ''[[School Play]]'', ''[[Skyvers/Jollers]]'', ''[[Superman]]'', ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]'', ''[[A Touch of 1900s]]'', ''[[We Bombed in New Haven]]'', ''[[What the Butler Saw]]'', ''[[Workplay]]'', ''[[You’ll Come (chuckle) to Love Your ????? (snigger) Test]]'', ''[[After Liverpool]]'', ''[[Ashes]]'', ''[[Don't Walk About with Nothing On]]'', ''[[Drivers]]'', ''[[The Four Seasons]]'', ''[[Fragments]]'', ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'', ''[[Going to Pot]]'', ''[[The Happy Prince]]'', ''[[I'll Ring for more Toast]]'', ''[[The Indian wants the Bronx]]'', ''[[Madly in Love]]'', ''[[Muzeeka]]'' and ''[[Outcry]]''.  
  
 +
He played "Biff" in [[PACT]]'s ''[[Death of a Salesman]]''  (1975) and had roles in ''[[The Duchess of Malfi]]'' (PACT, 1975), ''[[The Tempest]]'' ([[PACT]] 1975), ''[[Fortune and Men's Eyes]]'' (1975), ''[[Fangs]]'' ([[PACT]] 1977), ''[[The Norman Conquests]]'' (1979), ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'' (1981), ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]'' (1985), ''[[Black Coffee]]'' (1985) ,  ''[[The Foreigner]]'' (1986), ''[[Doubles]]'' (1986-7), ''[[Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune]]'' (1988).
  
As director:
+
[[Paul Slabolepszy|Slabolepszy]] and Flynn collaborated in several successful productions over the years. The superb ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'' premiéred at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1983, as did ''[[Pale Natives]]'' later. Keen sports-lovers, they then moved into pure farce with such successes as ''[[Under the Okes]]'', ''[[Over the Hill]]'', ''[[Heel Against the Head]]'' (the latter filmed as well). One of his most well-loved characters was "Tjokkie" in the hit comedies ''[[Heel Against the Head]]'' and ''[[Running Riot]]''.
Also directed ''[[Picnic on the Battlefield]]'', ''[[Post Mortem]]'' and ''[[Don't Walk About with Nothing On]]''.  
+
 +
In the one-man piece ''[[The Colossus of Brooklyn]]'' (1989-90) he portrayed 42 characters. He starred in Richard Harris’s ''[[The Maintenance Man]]'' at the [[Leonard Rayne]] and in ''[[Alibi]]'' as "Hercule Poirot" in 1990.  
  
''[[Marico Moonshine and Mampoer]]'', ''[[The Four Seasons]]'', and a number of collaborative works with his friend and colleague [[Paul Slabolepszy]].  
+
He appeared as one of the dames in the pantomime ''[[Sinbad's African Adventures]]'' in 1992.  
  
 +
In 2000/1 Flynn made a resounding comeback as a serious actor in what must be the finest theatre production of the year, playing “Willy Loman” in Miller’s [[Death of a Salesman]] at the [[Grahamstown Festival]].
  
"Biff" in [[PACT]]'s ''[[Death of a Salesman]]''  (1975), ''[[The Duchess of Malfi]]'' (PACT, 1975), ''[[The Tempest]]'' ([[PACT]] 1975), ''[[Fortune and Men's Eyes]]'' (1975), ''[[Fangs]]''([[PACT]] 1977), ''[[The Norman Conquests]]''  (1979), ''[[The Royal Hunt of the Sun]]'' (1981), ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'' (1982), ''[[Glengarry Glen Ross]]'' (1985), ''[[Black Coffee]]'' (1985) ,  ''[[The Foreigner]]'' (1986), ''[[Doubles]]'' (1986-7), ''[[Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune]]'' (1988).  
+
=== As director ===
 +
Also directed ''[[Picnic on the Battlefield]]'', ''[[Post Mortem]]'' and ''[[Don't Walk About with Nothing On]]''.  
  
The superb ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'' premiéred at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1983, as did ''[[Pale Natives]]'' later. Keen sports-lovers, they then moved into pure farce with such successes as ''[[Under the Okes]]'', ''[[Over the Hill]]'', ''[[Heel Against the Head]]'' (the latter filmed as well).
+
''[[Marico Moonshine and Mampoer]]'', ''[[The Four Seasons]]'', and a number of collaborative works with his friend and colleague [[Paul Slabolepszy]].  
 
 
 
 
 
 
In the one-man piece [[Colossus of Brooklyn]] (1989-90) he portrayed 42 characters.
 
 
 
He starred in Richard Harris’s ''[[The Maintenance Man]]'' at the [[Leonard Rayne]] in 1990.
 
 
 
''[[Sinbad’s African Adventures]]'' (1992). (Tucker, 1997)
 
 
 
Slabolepszy and Flynn collaborated in several successful productions over the years including ''[[Heel Against the Head]]'' in 1996.
 
 
 
 
 
FLYNN, Bill. ''[[People are Living There]]'', ''[[Mila Miglia]]'' with [[Bill Curry]].  Took ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]'' to Dublin and won the Dublin Critic Circle Award.  d ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]'' & ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'' , 1974. ''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]''1981.  ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'' with [[Joe Stewardson]] & [[Richard Haines]], (dir: [[Ken Leach]]), ''[[Outcry]]'' with [[Michelle Maxwell]]; ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'' with [[Victor Melleney]]. ''[[Hallo en Koebaai]]'' with [[Yvonne Bryceland]].
 
 
 
One of his most well-loved characters was Tjokkie in the hit comedies ''Heel Against the Head'' and ''Running Riot''.  
 
  
Television:
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=== Film and television ===
 
His TV credits include ''Hello and Goodbye'', ''People are Living There'', ''Senor'' **, ''The Toasty Show'', ''The Carruthers Brothers'', ''Jozi Streets''.  ''[[Whites]]'';
 
His TV credits include ''Hello and Goodbye'', ''People are Living There'', ''Senor'' **, ''The Toasty Show'', ''The Carruthers Brothers'', ''Jozi Streets''.  ''[[Whites]]'';
''[[City Lovers]]''.
+
A role in the film ''City Lovers'' (directed by Barney Simon, 1982 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179724/]).
 
+
Film credits include ''Saturday Night at the Palace'', ''Heel Against the Head'','' Aw Schucks it's UNTAG''?*, ''The Sunflower'', ''Oh Schucks..I'm Gatvol''?*, **.
Film credits include ''Saturday Night at the Palace'', ''Heel Against the Head'','' Aw Schucks it's UNTAG''?*, ''The Sunflower'', ''Oh Schucks..I'm Gatvol''?*, **.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'' , [[Three Leaf Award]], 1974
 
''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'' , [[Three Leaf Award]], 1974
  
Won a 1975 [[Three Leaf Award]] for best actor for ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]'' and ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]''. Was [[Dublin Critics Awards]] Best Actor for 1976 for ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]''. Won a [[Sammy Award]] in 1979 for ''[[Play it again, Sam]]'' in Johannesburg.   
+
Won a 1975 [[Three Leaf Award]] for best actor for ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]'' and ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]''. Was Dublin Critic Circle Award Best Actor for 1976 for ''[[Hello and Goodbye]]''. Won a [[Sammy Award]] in 1979 for ''[[Play it again, Sam]]'' in Johannesburg.   
 
 
He won best actor at the [[DALRO Awards]] for his role in ''[[Play it again, Sam]]''. Won a [[Sammy]] in 1979 for Play it again, Sam in Johannesburg, Market Theatre.
 
  
 +
He won best actor at the [[DALRO Awards]] for his role in ''[[Play it again, Sam]]''.
 
''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'', won  The [[Amstel  Award]] as the Best Play of the Year, 1981.
 
''[[Saturday Night at the Palace]]'', won  The [[Amstel  Award]] as the Best Play of the Year, 1981.
  
 
In all, Bill won 13 Best Actor Awards. He also won the Dublin Critics Award as well as a Golden Entertainer Award. Bill won a Best Screenplay Award for writing ''Saturday Night at the Palace''.
 
In all, Bill won 13 Best Actor Awards. He also won the Dublin Critics Award as well as a Golden Entertainer Award. Bill won a Best Screenplay Award for writing ''Saturday Night at the Palace''.
  
Winner of 12 Best Actor awards by 2003, with 35 more nominations. Also numerous awards as supporting actor, e.g. the ([[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]], for Best Supporting Actor for ''[[Doubles]]'' (1987),
+
Winner of 12 Best Actor awards by 2003, with 35 more nominations. Also numerous awards as supporting actor, e.g. the ([[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]], for Best Supporting Actor for ''[[Doubles]]'' (1987).
 
 
His role as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'' garnered him every available Best Actor Award for that year.
 
 
 
[[Death of a Salesman]] at the [[Grahamstown Festival]], then touring the country ([[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Theatre Award]], Best Actor 2001).
 
  
In 2000/1 Flynn made a resounding comeback as a serious actor in what must be the finest theatre production of the year, playing “Willy Loman” in Miller’s [[Death of a Salesman]] at the [[Grahamstown Festival]], then touring the country
+
He was nominated for a [[DALRO Award]] (best performance in a musical) for his performance in ''[[Sinbad's African Adventures]]'' in 1992.
  
 +
His role as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'' garnered him every available Best Actor Award for 2000/2001.
  
Played “Willy Loman” in Miller’s [[Death of a Salesman]] at the [[Grahamstown Festival]], then touring the country, 2000/1.
+
In the late 1980s Bill was twice voted one of South Africa's top five most popular performers in nationwide surveys.
 
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
Line 107: Line 83:
 
[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
 
[[ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
  
''Die Burger'' 14 July 2007.
+
''[[Die Burger]]'' 14 July 2007.
  
Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Flynn]
+
Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Flynn].
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
  
  

Latest revision as of 13:39, 26 October 2019

William "Bill" Flynn (13 December 1948 – 11 July 2007) was a South African actor, comedian, dramatist, director and rock band member. [1].

Biography

He was born in Ysterplaat, Cape Town and attended Plumstead primary and high schools. He was married twice, first to Anne Power and later to Jana Cilliers. Bill died in Johannesburg of an apparent heart attack in July 2007 at the age of 58.

Training

He studied at the University of Cape Town Drama Department under Robert Mohr and Mavis Taylor (BA in English and Drama).

Career

His highly successful career included leading roles in over 140 stage plays, musicals, 42 films, dozens of TV shows and thousands of radio and TV commercials.

Working as a professional actor all his life he began his career as a founder member of the Space Theatre in the early 1970s and, as a very serious and excellent young actor, he worked on 47 productions in three years. In this period he worked with Athol Fugard and Yvonne Bryceland.

He joined the Market Theatre's The Company in 1975.

Besides working regularly with Slabolepszy, the 1980s saw Flynn also working for Pieter Toerien. As he gained weight and lost hair, he endeared himself to the public as a comedian and worked widely on stage, film and TV. However, in 2000/1 Flynn made a resounding comeback as a serious actor in what must be the finest theatre production of the year, playing “Willy Loman” in Miller’s Death of a Salesman at the Grahamstown Festival, then touring the country.

He was also a talented singer and sang everything from comedy opera to rock ’n roll. After his years with Vinnie and the Viscounts, his next band, The Rock Rebels, developed a committed group of followers.

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

As actor

Bill has appeared on stage in productions of Hello and Goodbye1975, Enemy – An Anti-War Collage, People are Living There, Long Day's Journey into Night, Don't Drink the Water, Play it again, Sam (at the Market Theatre), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and in Tsafendas; Waiting for Godot; Skelms; Magic is Alive; Grinders War; Kill and Kill Again; Playland.

In addition he did Popcorn (Pieter-Dirk Uys, 1973), Ruffian on the Stair, School Play, Skyvers/Jollers, Superman, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, A Touch of 1900s, We Bombed in New Haven, What the Butler Saw, Workplay, You’ll Come (chuckle) to Love Your ????? (snigger) Test, After Liverpool, Ashes, Don't Walk About with Nothing On, Drivers, The Four Seasons, Fragments, The Glass Menagerie, Going to Pot, The Happy Prince, I'll Ring for more Toast, The Indian wants the Bronx, Madly in Love, Muzeeka and Outcry.

He played "Biff" in PACT's Death of a Salesman (1975) and had roles in The Duchess of Malfi (PACT, 1975), The Tempest (PACT 1975), Fortune and Men's Eyes (1975), Fangs (PACT 1977), The Norman Conquests (1979), The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1981), Glengarry Glen Ross (1985), Black Coffee (1985) , The Foreigner (1986), Doubles (1986-7), Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (1988).

Slabolepszy and Flynn collaborated in several successful productions over the years. The superb Saturday Night at the Palace premiéred at the Market Theatre in 1983, as did Pale Natives later. Keen sports-lovers, they then moved into pure farce with such successes as Under the Okes, Over the Hill, Heel Against the Head (the latter filmed as well). One of his most well-loved characters was "Tjokkie" in the hit comedies Heel Against the Head and Running Riot.

In the one-man piece The Colossus of Brooklyn (1989-90) he portrayed 42 characters. He starred in Richard Harris’s The Maintenance Man at the Leonard Rayne and in Alibi as "Hercule Poirot" in 1990.

He appeared as one of the dames in the pantomime Sinbad's African Adventures in 1992.

In 2000/1 Flynn made a resounding comeback as a serious actor in what must be the finest theatre production of the year, playing “Willy Loman” in Miller’s Death of a Salesman at the Grahamstown Festival.

As director

Also directed Picnic on the Battlefield, Post Mortem and Don't Walk About with Nothing On.

Marico Moonshine and Mampoer, The Four Seasons, and a number of collaborative works with his friend and colleague Paul Slabolepszy.

Film and television

His TV credits include Hello and Goodbye, People are Living There, Senor **, The Toasty Show, The Carruthers Brothers, Jozi Streets. Whites; A role in the film City Lovers (directed by Barney Simon, 1982 [2]). Film credits include Saturday Night at the Palace, Heel Against the Head, Aw Schucks it's UNTAG?*, The Sunflower, Oh Schucks..I'm Gatvol?*, **.

Awards, etc

The Glass Menagerie , Three Leaf Award, 1974

Won a 1975 Three Leaf Award for best actor for Hello and Goodbye and The Glass Menagerie. Was Dublin Critic Circle Award Best Actor for 1976 for Hello and Goodbye. Won a Sammy Award in 1979 for Play it again, Sam in Johannesburg.

He won best actor at the DALRO Awards for his role in Play it again, Sam. Saturday Night at the Palace, won The Amstel Award as the Best Play of the Year, 1981.

In all, Bill won 13 Best Actor Awards. He also won the Dublin Critics Award as well as a Golden Entertainer Award. Bill won a Best Screenplay Award for writing Saturday Night at the Palace.

Winner of 12 Best Actor awards by 2003, with 35 more nominations. Also numerous awards as supporting actor, e.g. the (Fleur du Cap Theatre Award, for Best Supporting Actor for Doubles (1987).

He was nominated for a DALRO Award (best performance in a musical) for his performance in Sinbad's African Adventures in 1992.

His role as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman garnered him every available Best Actor Award for 2000/2001.

In the late 1980s Bill was twice voted one of South Africa's top five most popular performers in nationwide surveys.

Sources

SACD 1975/76; 1977/78; 1979/80; 1981/82; Limelight1983/84.

Playland programme notes, 1992.

Tucker, 1997.

Die Burger 14 July 2007.

Wikipedia [3].

Go to ESAT Bibliography


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