Bill Flynn
Encyclopedia
Bill Flynn was a South African actor
and comedian
. He was born in Cape Town
and matriculated from Plumstead High School. He went to the UCT
drama school and was a founder member of the Space
theatre in Cape Town
.
drinking rugby union
fan. Bill had won 13 best actor awards, including the Dublin Critics and Golden Entertainer Awards. Among these were:
His film writing also won him a Best Screenplay award for Saturday Night at the Palace. His karate comedy movie Kill and Kill Again
was a top box office hit in America. Bill's movie of Saturday Night at The Palace won several Vita Film Awards, a Best Actor award at the Italian Taormina Film festival as well as a Merit Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival
.
He was a longtime friend and collaborator of the actor and playwright Paul Slabolepszy
.
Flynn was also involved in the music world. He was a co-founder and band member of The Rock Rebels (1998–2007) and the lead singer for Vinnie and the Viscounts (1987–1997).
At the time of his death Flynn was married to actress Jana Cilliers, his second wife.
Flynn died in Johannesburg
, South Africa
on July 11, 2007, of an apparent heart attack. He was 58 at the time of his death. His highly successful career includes leading roles in over 140 stage plays, musicals, 42 films, dozens of TV shows and thousands of radio and TV commercials.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. He was born in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and matriculated from Plumstead High School. He went to the UCT
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
drama school and was a founder member of the Space
Space Theatre (Cape Town)
The Space Theatre was a fringe theatre in Cape Town, South Africa which was active in the 1970's.It re-opened in late 2008.-History:...
theatre in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
Overview
Bill was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Tjokkie, a character which Flynn portrayed as a wise cracking, beerBeer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
drinking rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
fan. Bill had won 13 best actor awards, including the Dublin Critics and Golden Entertainer Awards. Among these were:
- Best Supporting Actor for Doubles - Fleur du Cap - Cape Town - 1987
- Best Actor for Saturday Night at the PalaceSaturday Night at the PalaceSaturday Night at the Palace is a play by South Africa's Paul Slabolepszy and Bill Flynn.-Plot:The play relates the story of two working class whites who arrive at an isolated roadhouse just as it is closing....
- Best Actor Award for Hello and Goodbye - Dublin
- Best Actor Award for a Comedy Play It Again Sam
- Best Screenplay Award for Saturday Night at the Palace
- Best Actor Award for role of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman
His film writing also won him a Best Screenplay award for Saturday Night at the Palace. His karate comedy movie Kill and Kill Again
Kill and Kill Again
Kill and Kill Again is a 1981 South African/American action film notable for being the first live-action film to use the visual effects known as bullet-time. It is a sequel to Kill or Be Killed ....
was a top box office hit in America. Bill's movie of Saturday Night at The Palace won several Vita Film Awards, a Best Actor award at the Italian Taormina Film festival as well as a Merit Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival
Los Angeles Film Festival
The Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times is an event held annually in June in downtown Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Film Festival began as the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in 1995. The first LAIFF took place over the course of five days in a single...
.
He was a longtime friend and collaborator of the actor and playwright Paul Slabolepszy
Paul Slabolepszy
Paul Slabolepszy , or Paul "Slab", is a South African actor and playwright.-Overview:Slabolepszy was born in Bolton, England. His mother was English and his father was a Polish refugee. The family then emigrated to South Africa....
.
Flynn was also involved in the music world. He was a co-founder and band member of The Rock Rebels (1998–2007) and the lead singer for Vinnie and the Viscounts (1987–1997).
At the time of his death Flynn was married to actress Jana Cilliers, his second wife.
Flynn died in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on July 11, 2007, of an apparent heart attack. He was 58 at the time of his death. His highly successful career includes leading roles in over 140 stage plays, musicals, 42 films, dozens of TV shows and thousands of radio and TV commercials.
Filmography
- House of the Living DeadHouse of the Living DeadHouse of the Living Dead is a British horror and science fiction film made in 1973 by director Ray Austin. Set on a plantation in Apartheid-era South Africa, it deals heavily with the occult. Its tagline is "It drives you mad before it kills!"-Plot:...
, 1973 - Hello and Goodbye, 1979
- Kill and Kill AgainKill and Kill AgainKill and Kill Again is a 1981 South African/American action film notable for being the first live-action film to use the visual effects known as bullet-time. It is a sequel to Kill or Be Killed ....
, 1981 - City Lovers, 1982
- Prisoners of the Lost UniversePrisoners of the Lost UniversePrisoners of the Lost Universe is a low budget 1983 film set in a parallel universe.Three people are transported to another world when an earthquake occurs just as the scientist is experimenting with his "matter" transmitter...
, 1983 - Funny People II, 1983
- Magic Is Alive, My Friend, 1985
- Senor Smith, 1986
- Saturday Night at the PalaceSaturday Night at the PalaceSaturday Night at the Palace is a play by South Africa's Paul Slabolepszy and Bill Flynn.-Plot:The play relates the story of two working class whites who arrive at an isolated roadhouse just as it is closing....
, 1987 - Kwagga Strikes Back, 1990
- Die Prince van Pretoria, 1993
- Kalahari Harry, 1994
- Guns of Honor, 1994
- Marie s'en va t-en guerre, 1994
- Treasure at Elephant Ridge, 1995
- Human Timebomb, 1996
- Heel Against the Head, 1999
- The Carruthers Brothers, 2000
- Oh Schuks... I'm GatvolOh Schuks... I'm GatvolOh Shucks I'm Gatvol!, is a South African comedy film written, produced and directed by Leon Schuster. He also stars in the film alongside Alfred Ntombela, Gerry the Clown, Bill Flynn and Al Debbo....
, 2004 - Jozi Streets, 2004
- Krakatoa - The Last DaysKrakatoa - The Last DaysKrakatoa: The Last Days is a BBC Television docudrama that premiered on May 7, 2006 on BBC One...
, 2006 - Running RiotRunning RiotRunning Riot is a 2006 South African comedy film directed by Koos Roets and stars the late Bill Flynn. Cast includes Paul Slab, Vanessa Harris, Robin Smith, Nazli George, Brendan Gearly and Joey Rasdien. It is based on a play by Paul "Slab" Slabolepsky....
, 2006
CD as singer
- Toyi Kaka - 1995
- I Don't Like Cricket, I Love It - 1996
- B.O.K.K.E. - 1999
- Gees
- Gooi My A Tenor
- Tenors Racket
- Rainbow Worrior
CD as group
- Get Vrot - Vinnie & The Viscounts
- Rock & Roll Party - Vinnie & The Viscounts
- Get This - The Rock Rebels
- Gooi Mielies - The Rock Rebels
External links
- IOL: Flynn's death leaves gap in industry
- allAfrica.com: Bill Flynn Obituary
- Indepdencent Online: Flynn brought laughter - DA
- Online: Talent and utter niceness Flynn's trademarks
- Variety Magazine: Bill Flynn, 58, South African actor; Veteran thesp won 13 best actor awards
- SABC News: Arts community shocked at Flynn's untimely death
- The Times: Bill Flynn: A seriously funny man
- Shock as actor Bill Flynn dies
