ben kruger
Ben Kruger needs no introduction to the South African entertainment industry. He started working professionally while still in school with various radio serials, commercials and stage plays. He also took his first film role while still a schoolboy. (Dirkie Uys in Dave Millen’s “Die Voortrekkers”)
During his national service in the South African Navy he worked in the Navy’s TV studios – first as a cameraman, and later as a script-writer and director. He wrote and directed many training films for the Navy, at the same time picking up a solid grounding in the art and science of video production.
After the Navy he went to the Drama Department of the University of Pretoria where he was awarded a BA Drama degree after three years. During this time he supported himself by working on films and television productions, both in front and behind the cameras. He was also asked by PACT (Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal) to take part in their production of “Beckett” starring Marius Weyers and Franz Marx while still a student.
He was seen in the last PACT production ever at the beloved Breytenbach Theatre and was also seen in the first ever PACT production at the State Theatre. He kept himself busy with stage and television work, notably Jakes in “Siener in die Suburbs” and Christo de Wet in “Skooldae”. Some other notable performances include Officer Swart in “Bra Solly’s Kitchen”, Kobus Koen in “The Game”, Sakkie Bezuidenhoudt in Zero Tolerance 1,2 and 3 and he was the inimitable Neef Gert in “7e Laan”. His big screen credits include “The Mandela and De Klerk Story” opposite Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine and “Cry the beloved Country” opposite Richard Harris and James Earl Jones.
Over the years, Ben has worked in all areas of the industry – as technician (camera, sound, editing, script writing and directing) and as an artist. He sings, dances and acts with equal gusto and is renowned for his professionalism at all times.
Ben is currently a director of The Learning Theatre Organisation, an industrial theatre company that has been in business since 1995. His hobbies include motor sport – he competes in the South African National Off Road Racing Championships -and cooking. He will soon be on South African TV screen again in the historical docu-drama “Riemvasmaak.” He is currently on tour with his one-man musical – Tjoklits en Trane, based on his CD by the same name.
Ben gives his time and talents to the Nicholas Rey foundation because he is a enthusiastic horseman. He delights in the fun that people have when they are near horses and he supports all efforts to improve horsemanship in South Africa. He is an aficionado of the Boerperd and believes that everyone should get on a horse at least once in their lives.