The Death of a Legend

I know this is a bit of a detachment from the regular crap on this blog, but bear with me.

I read this morning that Patrick Mynhardt died early yesterday.
The man was a living legend. An actor through and through and one of the best this country has ever seen. I did not know him personally, though I had the honour of reading opposite him for an audition a few months ago.

Many of you might know him better as Oom Schalk Lourens in theatre shows such as A Sip of Jerepigo, More Jerepigo, Just Jerepigo, Cold Stone Jug and Another Sip of Jerepigo all based upon Herman Charles Bosman's short stories. Others might remember from Vyfster or even Suburban Bliss.
Patrick was the Laurence Olivier of the SA stage. The man was a fucking legend.

And as all legends must go, Patrick died this morning in London where he was performing his Boy From Bethulie one-man-show.
As someone said, "he died with his boots on."

After studying at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, he joined the National Theatre Organisation in 1953 as an actor and started touring the country, according to his website, PatrickMynhardt.com. In 1954, he left for London where he trained at the Central School of Drama.

Performing on stage and for the BBC in Britain, he worked with such luminaries as Peter Sellers, Burt Lancaster, Anthony Quinn, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole, Michael Caine and Judi Dench. At the end of 1960 he returned to South Africa.

In a 2002 interview with SouthAfrica.info he said he had no plans to retire. "Retire? What would I do? I can do nothing but talk shit," he said.

He added: "I just wanted to be a wonderful actor. Forget about regrets. If you've achieved your great desire in life, what else matters?"

- Mail & Guardian Online

I salute you sir, it was an honour to have known your work.
All hail the king.