Bill Flynn

Bill Flynn
William Flynn (13 December 1948 – 11 July 2007) was a South African actor and comedian, perhaps best known for playing Tjokkie.
Early life
Flynn was born William Frederick Flynn 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. He was the son of William Frederick and Mary Elizabeth (Née Morley)
Overview
Flynn was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Tjokkie, a character that he portrayed as a wise-cracking, beer drinking rugby union fan. Flynn 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.
Death
Flynn died in Johannesburg, South Africa on 11 July 2007 of an apparent heart attack. He was 58 years old. His highly successful career included leading roles in over 140 stage plays, musicals, 42 films, dozens of TV shows and thousands of radio and TV commercials.
Filmography
1973 House of the Living Dead
1974 No Gold for a Dead Diver
1979 Hello and Goodbye
1981 Kill and Kill Again
1982 City Lovers
1983 Prisoners of the Lost Universe
1983 Funny People II
1985 Magic Is Alive, My Friend
1986 Senor Smith
1987 Saturday Night at the Palace
1990 Kwagga Strikes Back
1993 Die Prince van Pretoria
1994 Kalahari Harry
1994 Guns of Honor
1994 Marie s'en va t-en guerre
1995 Treasure at Elephant Ridge
1996 Human Timebomb
1999 Heel Against the Head
2000 The Best of the "Kwai Klub"
2000 The Carruthers Brothers
2004 Oh Schuks... I'm Gatvol
2004 Jozi Streets
2006 Krakatoa - The Last Days
2006 Running Riot
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 Warrior
CD as group
Get Vrot – Vinnie & The Viscounts
Rock & Roll Party – Vinnie & The Viscounts
Get This – The Rock Rebels
Gooi Mielies – The Rock Rebels
References
External links
IOL: Flynn's death leaves gap in industry
allAfrica.com: Bill Flynn Obituary
Independent 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)
1948 births
2007 deaths
South African male stage actors
University of Cape Town alumni
South African male film actors