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Patrick Mynhardt 'was magic'
25/10/2007 22:55 - (SA)
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| Patrick Mynhardt poses for a photo during a 2002 interview. (TV Plus/John Liebenberg, Images24.co.za) |
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Kobus Burger, Beeld
Johannesburg - Some of Patrick Mynhardt's friends and contemporaries were so saddened by his death on Thursday that they were too upset to be interviewed, while others remembered him as a "true artist" and "an absolute gentleman".
"It was such a shock, and yet not really unexpected," a heartbroken Wilna Snyman said from Hermanus.
"I spoke to him a few days ago. He phoned me and said he was afraid of falling ill while he was in London. I told him my son was a doctor there and we would arrange for him to have a South African doctor that he could phone if he picked up a cold or anything like that.
"He may have had a premonition."
She remembers Mynhardt as a good friend and a remarkable person. "He was such a mensch. I was so close to him. If Patrick walked into a room, everything was in technicolor: in big screen technicolour. And it was magic.
"He was so down to earth and honest and didn't mind if he made a fool of himself."
He acted, he didn't just perform
Actor Louis van Niekerk at first couldn't believe the news.
"This one's too much for me. He was the last of the greats. Patrick was the last one that really acted. We just perform these days. He brought full passion to his theatrical roles. The fact that the public was crazy about him showed that he was right."
Van Niekerk remembered congratulating Mynhardt for his rendition of the Merchant of Venice. His response was "But I didn't do anything!"
It just showed how he carried it off with ease and passion, Van Niekerk said.
"For me it's like a brother that's died, and it's something that I won't easily digest. One doesn't spend enough time saying how you feel about people. I am broken."
'Jewel' of SA theatre
Don Lamprecht also compared Mynhardt's death to that of a brother.
"It leaves a moerse hole. I just hope he went quickly and didn't suffer. I'm also glad that he died with his boots on. The stage was his life."
Daphne Kuhn manager of Theatre on the Square in Sandton where Mynhardt performed shortly before he left for London, described him as "an incredible person".
"He was a jewel of South African theatre. He was fantastic and at 75 he drew audiences as large as all the theatrical youngsters put together.
"His performances were more successful than any of the others that we presented. He was timeless, excellent, multi-talented and a true gentleman: a professional actor to his very fingertips.
"He was always honest, open, very humble - and he had the most amazing sense of humour.
"He was a genuine person, with a great respect for others. After the performances he would always tip the staff. He acknowledged every person that worked with him. He put his career ahead of financial gain. And he did it all because of his love for the theatre."
'I wanted to be the world's best and biggest acting star'
During an interview to mark his 70th birthday, Mynhardt told Beeld newspaper: "Look, I wanted to be the world's best and biggest acting star. And look where I am: a has-been in Henrietta Road, Norwood. But people tell me 'But Mr Mynhardt, you're a household name. And then I say 'Thank you, madam, I am so honoured, but so is Vicks Vaporub.'"
Kuhn agrees. "He could never acknowledge that he was one of the truly great actors. And yet he was!"
Penny Horner, director of Jermyn Street Theatre in London's West End, told Pieter Malan on Thursday she and her personnel were devastated by Mynhardt's death.
"He was such a wonderful and charming gent. We just knew him for three days, but it felt as if we'd known him for years. Patrick made us love him from the moment he walked in here."
Horner said Mynhardt was incredibly excited to be back on a London stage, after 50 years.
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