Biography
Pierre van Pletzen (born May 1, 1952) is a South African director and actor. He starred in the SABC2 soap opera 7de Laan as Septimus van Zyl.
The 70-year-old has also appeared in many other films and television shows.Â
The actor played Spike Potas in the sitcom Orney Snork Nie. One of his famous roles is in the 1989 comedy film The Gods Must be Crazy, where he played George.
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| Quick Facts | |
| Full Name: | Pierre van Pletzen |
| Born: | May 1, 1952 (age 70 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Stilfontein, South Africa |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Drama |
| Alma mater: | University of Pretoria |
| Spouse: | Elzette Maarschalk (m. 1985-1995) Sandra Vaughan (m. 1996) |
| Children: | Peach van Pletzen, Zetske Pletzen |
| Occupation: | Actor, director, writer |
| Years Active: | 1981-date |
| Nominations: | Golden Horn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Soap, Golden Horn Award for Best Actor in a TV Soap |
Early Life
Pierre van Pletzen was born on May 1, 1952, in Stilfontein, a former mining Town in South Africa. He holds a degree in drama from the University of Pretoria.
Career
Pierre made his acting debut for the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal. Later, he appeared at the Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State.
In 1974, he performed in the play Die Ryk Weduwee for Cape Performing Arts Board. For many years Pierre was a lecturer at Pretoria Technikon’s Drama School.
The veteran actor became the Artistic Head of Drama for the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal in the mid-eighties. He appeared first on TV in the movie Gideon Scheepers as Momberg in 1982.
Later in 1984, he was a cast member of the series 1922, playing Eben Meintjies. In 1989, the veteran actor played Spike Potas in the Afrikaans television series Orkney Snork Nie.
In 1984, he directed the play Babbelkous, making it his first directorial role. He played George in the 1989 Hollywood blockbuster The Gods Must Be Crazy II.
In 1990, he appeared in Windprints and The Fourth Reich. The actor has many movie credits. In 1991, he played Arno Theron in the film Taxi to Soweto.
Pierre played Coetzee in the 1996 film Panic Mechanic. He directed the 1993 musical play Buddy at the Civic and the 2005 Haaks by Chris Vorster.
The actor first appeared in the SABC1 soap opera 7de Laan in 2001 as Septimus van Zyl. He appeared in the production for seven years, left in 2017, and directed the series until 2016.
Pierre became a cast member of the kykNET Afrikaans soap opera Getroud met Rugby and played Sakkie.
Personal Life
Pierre van Pletzen married his first wife, Elzette Maarschalk, in 1985 and had two children together.
His son Peach van Pletzen, born Pierre-Henry van Pletzen, is a singer, while his daughter Zetske van Pletzen is an actress and designer. Their marriage ended after ten years in 1995.
After a year, Pierre van Pletzen married the actress Sandra Vaughan in 1996. He currently lives in Johannesburg.
Filmography
Television Shows
- 7de Laan as Oubaas van Zyl
- Alles Malan as Hannes Pienaar
- Arendsvlei as Tokkie
- Arsenaal as Groenewald
- Ballade Vir ‘n Enkeling as Guest Star
- Die Boekklub as Piet Smit
- Die Byl as Ian du Plessis
- Die Sentrum as Jaco
- Die Sonkring as Landdros
- Die Vierde Kabinet as Dominee
- Elke Skewe Pot as Koos
- Fraksie as Tiaan du Toit
- Fynskrif as Hendrik
- Getroud met Rugby: Die Sepie as Sakkie
- Onder Draai die Duiwel Rond as Dolf Massyn
- Onder Draai die Duiwel Rond as Bossie
- Orkney Snork nie! as Spike Potas
- Phil 101 as Manie Kraaywinkel
- Projek Dina as Albert
- Roer Jou Voete as Faan
- Sterk Skemer as Silas Reynders
- Torings as Tjaart Viljee
- Triptiek as Du Preez
Films
- 1989: The Gods Must Be Crazy II as George
- 1989: Windprints as Meinert
- 1990: The Fourth Reich as Hertzog
- 1991: Taxi to Soweto as Arno Theron
- 1992: Die Binnekring II as Dr. Gerhard Winterbach
- 1992: Orkney Snork Nie! as Spike
- 1993: Orkney Snork Nie! 2 as Spike
- 1996: Panic Mechanic as Coetzee
- 1998: Die Vierde Kabinet as Dominee
- 1999: Sterk Skemer as Silas Reynders
- 1999: Saints, Sinners and Settlers as Adriaan Louw
- 2016: Oom as Oom
- 2017: Meerkat Maantuig as Oupa Willem Joubert