by Thinus Ferreira
The veteran South African film, stage and television actor David Butler known for a litany of roles and his iconic TV commercial role of Bob in the CTM Bob and Nige ads has died from lung cancer. He was 61.
His TV commercial co-star Peter Terry who played Nige on Thursday said "such desperately sad news of David Butler's death. He was a brilliant actor. Outstanding. We had great fun together as Bob & Nige for over a period of 10 yearss - 1996 to 2006 doing the CTM tile commercials. This makes my heart very sore".
David Butler who leaves a massive on-screen legacy in the form of numerous character roles died on Thursday just a few months after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2020.
David Butler was a veteran South African actor well known for a wide body of work in theatre, television and film.
David Butler who studied drama at the Unversity of Cape Town (UCT) made his theatre debut on-stage at the Baxter and Market theatres in the play Another Country in 1983, and made his South African television debut in the same year in the SABC drama, The Canterville Ghost.
This was the start of over 100 other roles for David Butler in TV in series and commercials, in film and on the stage who played any character he was offered.
Just some theatre roles include appearing in A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Great Gatsby, Mannetjies Mentz, Cock and Bull Story, Anatomie Titus, Skyf and his highly-acclaimed one-man show, A Touch of Madness about the life of Herman Charles Bosman.
He was a staple in numerous locally-produced South African TV soap operas and telenovelas acting in front of diverse audiences, ranging from SABC1's Generations, Egoli on M-Net (DStv 101) to Gomora on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and the Afrikaans Binnelanders on kykNET (DStv 144).
He was seen in roles in South African drama series aired over decades across various TV channels like Shado's, Snitch, Room 9, Soul City, Yizo Yizo, The Game, To The Ends of the Earth, Madiba, Life is Wild, Jacob's Cross, Cape Town, Dead Places, aYeYe, Heartlines, Timber, Uncle Max, Sokhulu & Partners, Sorted, Jozi-H, Zero Tolerance, Scoop Schoombie, The Republic, Triptiek, Justice for All and more.
He also scored numerous roles in co-productions and international series that were filmed in South Africa including American TV series like A&E's Black Sails, ABC's Of Kings and Prophets and HBO's Warrior, the BBC miniseries Rhodes, The Triangle, The Prisoner, The Book of Negroes, and Tropical Heat.
In film he had roles in Cop Land (1997), Operation Delta Force 3: Clear Target (1999), Circles in a Forest, Gums and Noses and Zulu Love Letter.
David Butler's final on-screen appearance will be in the upcoming M-Net (DStv 101) crime drama series Reyka with his youngest daughter Ruby-Rose who also has a role in the show.
M-Net in a statement to TVwithThinus says "M-Net sends their heartfelt condolences to South African actor David Butler's
family and friends".
The Quizzical Pictures producers of Reyka in a statement to TVwithThinus say "We are so sad to hear of David Butler's passing. We have been working with him
on the drama series Reyka where he gave a brilliant performance as the lawyer
Bloom".
"He also helped us during the casting of the series and his daughter Ruby
Rose plays the role of Jessica. Despite his illness he performed with great professionalism and focus. He was
and will always be a rare talent. We wish his family strength and love."
In a statement, the family said that "Our beloved father, son, brother, grandfather and friend, David passed away peacefully this morning at around 10.30am."
"He was surrounded by family in a room filled with love. Although he had been ill, it is still, as is always the case, a huge shock. Nothing prepares one. We take comfort that David is reunited with his beautiful son."
In January 2021 David Butler in a letter he sent to YOU and Huisgenoot magazines, noted how the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 caused work to dry up as South Africa's film and TV industry stalled and how his income disappeared.
He had to move in with his daughter Liane (28) and join her medical aid fund as well since he was unable to afford his own medical aid payments. Then he was suddenly diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to his brain.
David Butler said that although he's portrayed characters from Herman Charles Bosman to C. Louis Leipoldt and Bram Fischer, that the biggest role of his life faced him now in fighting cancer.
David Butler leaves behind his ex-wife Kate, three daughters Annie (27), Laine, Ruby Rose and a son John Peter.
