A good old Afrikaner
When I remind you of the old Afrikaans television series, Koöperasie stories. What is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people I asked answered Genis. Genis was the character played by well known actor and writer Willem Jacobus Loots (born 24 October 1925), shortened to Jacques.
Jacques Loots already got his starting television role in 1974. The series he first acted in was based on “Die ruiter in swart.” After that he was seen in several movies among which Die kandidaat and he acted in other television series like Orkney snork nie as well. He got his degree B.Ed. (Hon) at the Potchefstroomse Universiteitskollege, when he was only 19 years old. He returned later to be a lector at the PUK from 1967 until 1969.
Many people may think that Genis is the kind of person Jacques would be, but he wasn’t nearly the korrelkop that Genis was. Jacques was a typical artist with a very fine sense of humor. This highly intelligent man who never read less than two books at the same time gave much thought to the saying: “Don’t suffer fools gladly.” Still he was modest with his feet planted steadily on the ground. He was a people’s person but also a child of nature, who would much rather enjoy the open sky filled with stars than the glittering lights and the glamorous rush of the city.
The last piece of work he did was an opera at the beginning of 1991 “Die Fliedermaus” at the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein. Afterwards he went home, to Bethulie where he lived the remaining five years of his life, and just never acted again. On 3 October 1991 Jacques Loots passed away in his sleep because of a blood clot that passed through his lung.
This is where my story has to end, but knowing I shared the life of a legend in Afrikaans with you and that you can keep it alive is comfort enough.
When I remind you of the old Afrikaans television series, Koöperasie stories. What is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people I asked answered Genis. Genis was the character played by well known actor and writer Willem Jacobus Loots (born 24 October 1925), shortened to Jacques.
Jacques Loots already got his starting television role in 1974. The series he first acted in was based on “Die ruiter in swart.” After that he was seen in several movies among which Die kandidaat and he acted in other television series like Orkney snork nie as well. He got his degree B.Ed. (Hon) at the Potchefstroomse Universiteitskollege, when he was only 19 years old. He returned later to be a lector at the PUK from 1967 until 1969.
Many people may think that Genis is the kind of person Jacques would be, but he wasn’t nearly the korrelkop that Genis was. Jacques was a typical artist with a very fine sense of humor. This highly intelligent man who never read less than two books at the same time gave much thought to the saying: “Don’t suffer fools gladly.” Still he was modest with his feet planted steadily on the ground. He was a people’s person but also a child of nature, who would much rather enjoy the open sky filled with stars than the glittering lights and the glamorous rush of the city.
The last piece of work he did was an opera at the beginning of 1991 “Die Fliedermaus” at the Sand du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein. Afterwards he went home, to Bethulie where he lived the remaining five years of his life, and just never acted again. On 3 October 1991 Jacques Loots passed away in his sleep because of a blood clot that passed through his lung.
This is where my story has to end, but knowing I shared the life of a legend in Afrikaans with you and that you can keep it alive is comfort enough.
1 comment:
Hi Elmari
I jsut want to thank you for what you have written, and that you showed interest in someone that wasn't just an actor for me, but a hero and a grandfather. Hope to read more of your writings soon.
Greetings
Willem Jacobus (the 6th)
Jacques Loots
Lydenburg
jaqloots@gmail.com
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