Capetonians were shocked on Thursday morning to wake up to the sad news of the passing of the city’s much-loved entertainer Soli Philander.
Numerous Facebook posts spoke of the sadness of his death, with tributes pouring in for the 65-year-old comedian, actor and storyteller from Elsies River.
The news was confirmed late on Wednesday evening by sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie, who described Philander as an artist who possessed “the rare gift of making people laugh by reminding us of who we are”.
Philander’s career in entertainment spanned more than 20 years, beginning in theatre at Cape Town’s Space Theatre with productions including Political Joke and The Car Cemetery. He later performed at the Baxter Theatre in Waiting for Godot, and his stage work took him to international venues in Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom and Namibia.
Television audiences came to know him through various shows. He presented the Afrikaans musical game show Liriekeraai on kykNET and hosted the South African version of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? in 2008. In 2005, he fronted the first season of e.tv’s reality show Let’s Fix It.
His acting credits included appearances in Arendsvlei, Dias Santana, Hooten & the Lady, Devil’s Peak and The Umbrella Men: Escape from Robben Island. Earlier roles included parts in the 1992 film The Road To Mecca and the 2001 television movie Diamond Hunters.
Radio listeners knew him from CapeTalk, where he hosted the talk show Airborne.
Beyond performing, Philander worked as a motivational speaker, master of ceremonies and columnist. He was involved in community work through the Boundless Heart Foundation, participating in projects that included feeding children in communities such as Blikkiesdorp.
In his statement, McKenzie said artists like Philander played an important role in society.
“For decades, Philander brought laughter, insight and warmth to audiences everywhere in our country. On behalf of the sport, arts and culture department, and as a longtime fan myself, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the many South Africans whose lives he touched through his work.”
Philander is survived by his sons Caleb and Ethan, and daughters Danya and Kyla. He also helped care for a foster daughter, Lauren, during her final year of school with his then wife, Toni, before the couple split in 2015.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.
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