Waldemar Schultz

Waldemar Schultz (1970-) is an actor and director for stage, film and TV.

Also known as Waldi Schultz.

Biography

Born and raised in Milnerton, Cape Town, he grew up bilingually English and Afriikaans. He studied drama at the University of Stellenbosch, eventually completing a M.Dram degree in directing. As a student he first caught the attention of critics in his second year with his performance as "Allan Strang" in Equus, followed by a number of highly praised performances in Afrikaans and English. During his masters' studies, he directed critically acclaimed versions of Bartho Smit's controversial play Christine (1993) and Ionesco's Die Renosters (1994) for the department.

He married actress and drama teacher Ira Blanckenberg and the couple had two children, Kieran Schultz and Dhania Schultz, both performers, like their parents. Kieran died tragically in 2013.

Voice Work

While still a graduate student, Schultz began a freelance career in voice dubbing and radio dramas for the SABC, and would eventually go on to become a dubbing director for Quantum Productions for a while.

Stage work

He began his professional career as one of the four original actors employed by Spektrum Productions in Stellenbosch, for whom he worked both as actor and an occasional director, and has been a free-lance performer and director ever since. Over the years he has worked on many theatre projects (as actor, director and occasionally even as writer) for different companies including PACT, CAPAB, Spektrum Productions, Blond Productions, Stercus Productions.

His numerous stage roles include "Ebenezer" in Ebenezer Pennieknyper, Pa, Maak vir my 'n Vlieër, Pa (2016), Bidsprinkaan (2016), Hier Sit die Manne, Net 'n Chilliburger en Chips Asseblief (2015-6),

Has also directed plays for the Klein Libertas-teater and various theatre festivals.

Children's Theatre

He and his wife share an interest in theatre for children, and besides directing such work, he is closely involved with the youth theatre festival in Durbanville and the Logan-tienertoneelfees in Fraserburg.

Work in TV and Film

As "Jan-Hendrik Terreblanche" in the popular SABC2 soap opera Sewende Laan ("Seventh Avenue") Schultz became a prominent television actor, with leading roles in for instance the improv comedy Proesstraat, the crime series Die Byl (as "Piet van der Byl"), as well as smaller roles following in Dominion, Hooten and the Lady, Boland Moorde.

His first role in a television series was as Klein-Geoff in the 1994 series, Woestynblom, followed by Paul Kruger in the CCV youth drama Young Vision.

Smaller cameo roles in Hagenheim: Streng Privaat, Soutmansland and Arsenaal followed, but most of his time was taken up with voice work, corporate and children's theatre and commercials – until, from the year 2000, the role of Jan-Hendrik Terreblanche in 7de Laan became more-or-less a full-time occupation.

He left 7de Laan in late 2008 (his last appearance was on Friday 6 March, 2009), in order to return to Cape Town, having lived in Johannesburg since beginning on 7de Laan.

From 2010-2011 he starred as the lead character in the kykNET improvisational show Proesstraat (Proes Street), recorded without a script, in front of a live audience. He left the show after two seasons.

In 2012 he guest starred in the final season of the SABC1 sitcom Stokvel and in 2013 he starred in the fifth episode of the kykNET crime anthology murder mystery drama series Die Boland Moorde (The Boland Murders).

In 2016 he starred in the crime drama series Die Byl (The Axe), playing the lead role of Colonel Piet van der Bijl, a detective loosely based on the real life South African detective Piet Byleveld.

His film roles include

Teaching

During his masters' studies (1992 to 1994) he also taught acting at the Department.

Awards, etc

He was awarded the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Most Promising Student in 1992.

Sources

https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=1533

Ilse Salzwedel. 2016. "Akteur in Hart en Siel", Rooi Rose: September: pp.28-30.

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