Ian Roberts (South African actor)

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Ian Roberts
Ian Roberts.jpg
Roberts performing at the Rittelfees in Vredendal, Western Cape, in 2003
Born (1951-11-30) 30 November 1951 (age 73)
Fort Beaufort, Cape Province, Union of South Africa
Alma mater Rhodes University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • playwright
  • singer
Spouse Michelle Botes (divorced 1999)
Children2
Musical career
Years active1980–present

Ian Roberts (born 30 November 1951) is a South African actor, playwright and singer. A native English speaker, he is also fluent in Afrikaans and Xhosa.

Contents

Early life

Roberts was born in Fort Beaufort in the Cape Province, Union of South Africa, and grew up on his father's citrus farm near the town. He attended St. Andrew's Preparatory School and St. Andrew's College in Grahamstown. After completing high school, he performed his compulsory national service in the South African Army, which he completed in 1971.

After a variety of different jobs and a course in photography at the Port Elizabeth Technical College from 1973 to 1975, Roberts enrolled at Rhodes University in 1976 for a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in speech, drama and social anthropology.

Acting career

Roberts became a South African icon when he played the character of Boet in a long-running series of television advertisements for Castrol motor oil. [1] : 4  This character (together with the other characters Swaer and Moegoe) has also been featured in M-Net's comedy series Kalahari Oasis as well as in his Radio Kalahari Orkes band. [1] : 4 

In the Oscar-winning South African film, Tsotsi , [1] : 4  Roberts played the role of a police captain.

He was married to South African actress Michelle Botes, but the couple divorced in 1999. They had two children.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

List of performances by Ian Roberts in film
YearTitleRoleOther notes
1987 Jane and the Lost City Carl
1989 Arende Sloet Steenkamp
1989A Private LifeSergeant SmitTelevision Movie
1992 The Power of One Hoppie Gruenewald
1993Triptiek–Television Series
1993 Daisy de Melker Sid de MelkerTelevision Movie
1995 Cry, the Beloved Country Evans
1996RhodesColenbranderTelevision Miniseries
1997 Mandela and de Klerk Kobie Coetsee Television Movie
1998PaljasFrans
1998 Tarzan and the Lost City Captain Dooley
1998SweepersYager
1999A Reasonable ManChris Van Rooyen
2000 I Dreamed of Africa Mike Donovan
2001MalundeKobus
2001AskariRipshaw
2002Promised LandGerhard Snyman
2003Hoodlum & SonEarl
2004 King Solomon's Mines Sir HenryTelevision Movie
2004 Red Dust Piet Muller
2005 Wah-Wah John Traherne
2005 Tsotsi Captain Smit
20053 NeedlesHallyday
2006 Number 10 Marius Kramer
2008 Bakgat!Basjan Du Preez
2010Bakgat! IIBasjan Du Preez
2013Bakgat! tot die mag 3Basjan Du Preez
2013 Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux Oom Frans
2016 Cape Town Gerbrand VosTelevision Miniseries
2017Van der MerweOupa Schalk van der Merwe

In addition to the above, Roberts has played the leading role in Afrikaans language television series such as Sloet Steenkamp in Arende ("Eagles") and Jack Degenaar in Arsenaal ("Arsenal"), as well as a supporting role in Kwelaman (1986). He has also written a number of scripts, such as Honeytown 1 and the musical Palang van Dwaal ("Palang from Dwaal").

References

  1. 1 2 3 Watson, Amanda (12 August 2019). "Boet on the okes and orkes". The Citizen.
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