by Thinus Ferreira
The veteran South African actor Darlington Michaels, best known for his role as flamboyant gangster Georgie "Papa G" Zamdela in SABC3's cancelled Isidingo, died on Friday after a short sickbed. He was 78.
Darlington Michaels was admitted to the Chris Baragwanath hospital in Soweto this week suffering from breathing problems.
He was born in Pimville, Soweto, the son of a Lesotho mother and an East London father, after which they moved to Sophiatown and then White City. His Michaels surname comes from his grandfather who was a coloured man.
In 1984 Darlington Michaels wrote and starred in the play Survival about South Africa's apartheid prison system. For it he was arrested in Nelspruit and spent three months in prison without trial. After he was released, he continued to do theatre work.
Besides his iconic Isidingo role which he started with in 1997 after he got the part, Darlington Michaels portrayed the role of Daliza in the 2012 sitcom Chandies on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), and he was Pipe Man in the first season of Gaz'lam.
He appeared in Netflix's second season of How to Ruin Christmas, portrayed Themba Mashinini in Mzansi Magic's The Road telenovela in 2015 and appeared as the township gangster Gab in Mzansi Magic's 2020 drama series Vula Vula.
In film Darlington Michaels had roles in 1986's Strike Force, 1988's Mapantsula and in 1995's Hearts & Minds as well as Cry, the Beloved Country.
He also appeared in 1999's Chikin Biznis ... The Whole Story, 2006's Bunny Chow: Know Thyself, and was Rev. Reynolds in 2015's The Jakes are Missing.
In 2013 Darlington Michaels suffered a stroke in Cape Town during a work trip and spent three months in Cape Town's Groote Schuur hospital.
Darlington Michaels created his own production company, Melisizwe Productions specialising in community theatre. He is survived by his wife and two children.
The SABC in a statement says the broadcaster "is deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary Darlington Michaels. His immense contribution to the entertainment industry will forever be remembered".
