The well-known and beloved Afrikaans actor and comedian Zack du Plessis is dead. Known and beloved for his roles in Afrikaans South African sitcoms like Orkney Snork Nie and Vetkoekpaleis, Zack du Plessis passed away in his sleep Wednesday night in Pretoria. He was 61.
Zack du Plessis starred in over 25 movies, several South African television sitcoms and theatre productions. He became a household name with the advent of television in South Africa in the 1970's in the popular TV show Bosveldhotel, followed by Orkney Snork Nie. He also appeared on the variety show Maak 'n Las as the moderator presenter.
The cause of Zack du Plessis's death is not known, although he has been undergoing treatment and chemotherapy for lung cancer at the time. He was treated in hospital a few weeks ago for a lung complaint. Zack du Plessis was married to another icon South African TV star for 37 years - Magda van Biljon, known to millions of South Africans as ''tannie Magda'' of the longrunning TV1 children's programme Wielie Walie. They also had a son and a daughter.
In 2003 Zack du Plessis famously chastised the public broadcaster in parliament, saying that the SABC is ''messing up'' indigenous South African languages.
''He had such a good spirit. People just loved him the minute they met him,'' says director and actor Willie Esterhuizen who was a friend of Zack du Plessis.
