Bill Flynn

Bill Flynn
File:Bill Flynn in Heel Against The Head - Jan 1995.jpg Bill Flynn as Tjokkie in Heel Against the Head (1995)
Born	William Flynn
Occupation	Actor
Spouse(s)	Anne Power (1st) and Jana Cilliers (2nd)

Bill Flynn (December 13, 1948 - July 11, 2007) 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.

Overview

Bill was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Tjokkie, a character which Flynn portrayed as a wise cracking, beer drinking rugby union 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 Palace
• 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 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.

Filmography

• House of the Living Dead, 1973
• Hello and Goodbye, 1979
• Kill and Kill Again, 1981
• City Lovers, 1982
• Prisoners of the Lost Universe, 1983
• Funny People II, 1983
• Magic Is Alive, My Friend, 1985
• Senor Smith, 1986
• Saturday Night at the Palace, 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 Gatvol, 2004
• Jozi Streets, 2004
• Krakatoa - The Last Days, 2006
• Running Riot, 2006

Music

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

Baxter Theatre Stills

• "Living Together" with Jana Cilliers (1979)
• "Saturday Night at the Palace" with Fats Dibeco and Paul Slabolepszy (1983)
• Paul Slabolepszy's "Pale Natives" (1994)
• As Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" (2001)
• "Running Riot" with Paul Slabolepszy (2002)