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Johannesburg – Zack du Plessis was cracking jokes right up to the end.
The actor and TV presenter died on Thursday morning at about 02:30 in his sleep at his home in Pretoria east. He was 62.
According to his manager, Charles Claassen, Du Plessis was receiving treatment for emphysema and aggressive cancer in his left lung. After being hospitalised, he preferred to be cared for at home. His condition worsened suddenly over the past week.
His school friend Gert van der Walt and producer of Maak ’n las, still visited Du Plessis the night before his death. Du Plessis was a presenter of this comedy show.
"He still made jokes about all our bald heads and said his hair was already growing back after the chemotherapy."
"We didn't expect that it would be the last time that we would see him," said Van der Walt.
Husband and father
In September, Du Plessis would have been married 38 years to actress and TV presenter Magda van Biljon.
The couple toured through the country two years ago with the production Zack-n-pack, to celebrate their 35 years in the entertainment industry.
Van der Walt said Du Plessis and his family would have left on Thursday morning for a farm near Lephalale (Ellisras) for the long weekend.
Du Plessis's son, Wenef, told Philip de Bruin on Thursday his mother was "coping very well at this stage".
He said his father had been diagnosed with lung cancer three months ago.
"We – my mom, my sister, Bernice, and I – were all with him when he died this morning. He was a wonderful husband and father."
Weakness
Willie Esterhuizen, director of Orkney Snork Nie and Vetkoek Paleis, said he would remember Du Plessis especially for his gentleness.
"He never had anything negative to say about anyone else."
"As an actor he was wonderful to work with. I think he was often underrated as an actor because he made it look so easy."
Esterhuizen saw Du Plessis last week.
"He was mentally strong and still talked of a DVD he wanted to make."
Claassen said Du Plessis's "weakness" was that he always made time for others.
Blue Bulls
Actress Hélène Truter said "We often had to wait for him because he first wanted to talk to everyone. I will also remember him as an exceptionally straight and honest person.
"He was a gentleman who treated his co-workers and the public with respect.
"I can't remember ever seeing Zack angry. Of course, he became very upset when the Blue Bulls lost, because he was very serious about his rugby."
Du Plessis had a degree in drama from the University of Pretoria and worked at the former regional arts council Truk before focusing on a TV career after the arrival of television in 1976.
Du Plessis was also a popular master of ceremonies and involved in the real estate industry.
No funeral arrangements have been made yet.
The actor and TV presenter died on Thursday morning at about 02:30 in his sleep at his home in Pretoria east. He was 62.
According to his manager, Charles Claassen, Du Plessis was receiving treatment for emphysema and aggressive cancer in his left lung. After being hospitalised, he preferred to be cared for at home. His condition worsened suddenly over the past week.
His school friend Gert van der Walt and producer of Maak ’n las, still visited Du Plessis the night before his death. Du Plessis was a presenter of this comedy show.
"He still made jokes about all our bald heads and said his hair was already growing back after the chemotherapy."
"We didn't expect that it would be the last time that we would see him," said Van der Walt.
Husband and father
In September, Du Plessis would have been married 38 years to actress and TV presenter Magda van Biljon.
The couple toured through the country two years ago with the production Zack-n-pack, to celebrate their 35 years in the entertainment industry.
Van der Walt said Du Plessis and his family would have left on Thursday morning for a farm near Lephalale (Ellisras) for the long weekend.
Du Plessis's son, Wenef, told Philip de Bruin on Thursday his mother was "coping very well at this stage".
He said his father had been diagnosed with lung cancer three months ago.
"We – my mom, my sister, Bernice, and I – were all with him when he died this morning. He was a wonderful husband and father."
Weakness
Willie Esterhuizen, director of Orkney Snork Nie and Vetkoek Paleis, said he would remember Du Plessis especially for his gentleness.
"He never had anything negative to say about anyone else."
"As an actor he was wonderful to work with. I think he was often underrated as an actor because he made it look so easy."
Esterhuizen saw Du Plessis last week.
"He was mentally strong and still talked of a DVD he wanted to make."
Claassen said Du Plessis's "weakness" was that he always made time for others.
Blue Bulls
Actress Hélène Truter said "We often had to wait for him because he first wanted to talk to everyone. I will also remember him as an exceptionally straight and honest person.
"He was a gentleman who treated his co-workers and the public with respect.
"I can't remember ever seeing Zack angry. Of course, he became very upset when the Blue Bulls lost, because he was very serious about his rugby."
Du Plessis had a degree in drama from the University of Pretoria and worked at the former regional arts council Truk before focusing on a TV career after the arrival of television in 1976.
Du Plessis was also a popular master of ceremonies and involved in the real estate industry.
No funeral arrangements have been made yet.
