Leon Schuster

Last updated

Leon Schuster
Leon Schuster2.jpg
Schuster (c. 2001)
Born (1951-05-21) 21 May 1951 (age 73)
Vereeniging, South Africa
Education
  • Hoërskool Jim Fouché
  • University of Orange Free State
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • prankster
  • filmmaker
  • singer
Years active1975–present
SpouseLalie Schuster (div. 1999)

Leon Ernest "Schucks" Schuster (born 21 May 1951) is a South African filmmaker, [1] comedian, actor, prankster and singer.

Contents

Early life

Schuster was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age. As a child he and his brother would play practical jokes on his family and film it. He explained, in a 2010 interview about his early life in Bloemfontein, "I remember running down the aisle of the Ritz Theatre, playing cowboys & crooks, which was all the rage at the time. I also remember loving Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and the Three Stooges. I was always acting things out, and pulling pranks. I used to fool my grandma into thinking I’d shot myself in the foot with my pellet gun… tomato sauce everywhere, me squealing like a wild pig. Pranking is just in my nature, but I’d never thought I’d become a movie star… no, I’m not a movie star, I’m just a local outjie that likes to entertain people." [2]

Schuster studied for a BA degree at the University of the Orange Free State, where he played rugby for the first team. [3] He returned to Jim Fouché as a teacher for two years. [4]

Career

Schuster began working for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. During his time at the SABC, he created the Afrikaans radio series Vrypostige [5] Mikrofoon [6] with Fanus Rautenbach – which involved disguising his voice [7] and playing phone pranks on unsuspecting victims. [3]

Music

In 1982, Schuster was approached by Decibel Records to compile a series of sports songs which resulted in his first record entitled, Leon Schuster, having sold 10,000 units. His second album, Broekskeur ('trouser-tearing' literal translation, broekskeur means that things are difficult - you are having a difficult time), sold in excess of 40,000 units. This was then followed by Briekdans and Leon Schuster – 20 Treffers, which sold more than 270,000 copies.

His hit CD Hier Kom Die Bokke ('Here Come The Boks') garnered an FNB Sama Music Award for Biggest Selling CD of 1995. [8] His following CD, Gatvol in Paradise, [9] sold in more than 125,000 units and gave rise to the unofficial Gauteng anthem "Gautengeleng".

Film

Schuster's first feature, You Must Be Joking! , [10] produced in collaboration with Johan Scholtz and Elmo de Witt, became popular with South African audiences and gave rise to the sequel You Must be Joking! Too . [11]

These films were candid camera sketches and Schuster made many more of these films as well as slap-stick films, including Mr Bones , his most successful film, which earned more than R33 million at the South African box office.

On 16 September 2011 it was reported that Schuster's next movie, Mad Buddies , would be partly financed by the Walt Disney Company, which would also handle the distribution and marketing of the film. [12] The film was released in 2012 and starred Schuster opposite funnyman Kenneth Nkosi. It received poor reviews, and garnered R4.5 million in the opening weekend from a budget of R20 million. [13]

Comedic style

According to Schuster, his appeal to the public stems from him making "them used to a certain style of comedy that they seem to like. They like trouble, and they know when Schuster is there, there is trouble. They also like me to rip off the topical stuff be risky and take chances.....and get 'moered!'".

In 2018, the comedian was "unapologetic about playing on every racial stereotype in his films", but openly admitted that he "does have some regrets about having profited from blackface". He further stated: "I'm so sorry that I can't make  Mama Jack 2. If I had a dream come true, my next movie would be Mama Jack 2. But especially on Twitter they said stay away from the blackface, it's not on. It was black people talking to me and you've got to listen. I can't do it because I'll be heavily criticised. In the olden days it troubled nobody. But I won't go blackface now, I can't do it. There's not one actor in the world that will. It's just racist". [14]

Showmax film removals

On 19 June 2020, South African streaming service Showmax removed over six of Schuster's films, [15] citing his content as being "racially insensitive", considering he has used blackface in many of his films for "comedic effect". This came during the heightened Black Lives Matter protests. Schuster reacted, saying he was "shocked" and "can't believe that the content of his films does any harm". He said his work is "innocent" and just him "pranking people". [14]

Frank and Fearless (2018) was returned to the circuit after review. [16]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleGrossSoundtrack Music
1986 You Must Be Joking! [10] Schucks
1987You Must Be Joking! Too [11] SchucksR43 Million
1989 Oh Schucks...It's Schuster! [17] Schucks
1990 Oh Schucks...! Here Comes U.N.T.A.G. (aka Kwagga Strikes Back) [18] [19] Kwagga Robertse
1991 Sweet 'n Short [20] Sweet CoetzeeClarke/Bremer Performed by Adult Art [21]
1993 There's a Zulu On My Stoep (aka Yankee Zulu) [22] Rhino Labuschagne
1997Panic Mechanic [23] Schucks
1999Millennium Menace [24] SchucksR40 millionIn Love With You sang by Dana Winner [25]
2001 Mr Bones [26] BonesR33 million
2004 Oh Schuks... I'm Gatvol [27] Schucks
2005 Mama Jack [28] Jack Theron
Mama Bolo
Donald
$4.4 million
2008 Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past [29] BonesR35 millionTheme song music & performed by Don Clarke [30]
2010 Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa [31] Schuks TshabalalaSchuster/Clarke, performed by Crutchmullets [32]
2012 Mad Buddies [33] Boetie
2013 Schuks! Your Country Needs You [34] SchucksDon Clarke [35]
2015Schuks! Pay Back The Money [36] SchucksDon Clarke [37]
2018 Frank and Fearless [38] FrankNic Paton and Don Clarke
2022Mr Bones 3: Son of Bones [39] Bones

Discography

Albums

Singles

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