Leon Ernest "Schuks" Schuster (born May 21, 1951) is a South African filmmaker, comedian

Comedian

A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...

, actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

, presenter

Presenter

A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...

 and singer.

Early life

Schuster was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age. As children he and his brother would play practical jokes on his family and film these with an old home movie camera.

Schuster studied for a BA degree

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 at the University of the Orange Free State and spent two years teaching at a high school in Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...

.

Career

Schuster began working for the South African Broadcasting Corporation

South African Broadcasting Corporation

The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...

 in 1975. During his time at the SABC, Leon created the Afrikaans

Afrikaans

Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...

 radio series Vrypostige Mikrofoon with Fanus Rautenbach– where he would disguise his voice and take the mickey

Taking the mickey

To take the piss is an expression meaning to mock, tease, ridicule, or scoff. Take the Mickey is a euphemistic way of conveying this expression where the word "piss" may be vulgar...

 out of unsuspecting victims.

Music

In 1982, Leon was approached by Decibel Records to compile a series of sports songs and his first record, Leon Schuster sold 100,000 units. His second album Broekskeur sold in excess of 40,000 units and this was followed by Briekdans and Leon Schuster – 20 Treffers which sold in excess of 270,000 copies.

His hit CD Hier Kom Die Bokke garnered an FNB Sama Music Award for Biggest Selling CD of 1995. His following CD, Gatvol in Paradise, sold in more than 125,000 units and gave rise to the unofficial Gauteng

Gauteng

Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...

 anthem, Gautengeling.

Film

Schuster's first feature, You Must Be Joking! produced in collaboration with Johan Scholtz and Elmo de Witt became popular with South African audiences and it gave rise to the sequel You Must be Joking! Too.

These films were candid camera

Candid Camera

Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...

 sketches and Schuster made many more of these films as well as slap-stick films, the most notable of which was Mr Bones. The film emerged as the most successful Schuster film of all time, earning more than R33 million

South African rand

The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...

 at the South African box office.

16 September 2011 it was reported that Leon Schuster upcoming movie will partly financed by the The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company will also be handling the distribution and marketing of the new movie.

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Gross
1986	You Must Be Joking!	Schucks
1987	You Must Be Joking! Too	Schucks
1989	Oh Schucks...It's Schuster!	Schucks
1990	Oh Shucks! Here Comes UNTAG Oh Shucks! Here Comes UNTAG Oh Shucks! Here Comes U.N.T.A.G! is a South African comedy film and Leon Schuster's big screen debut about a rugged farmer named Kwagga 'The Lion-Killer' Robertse having to deal with a corrupt major in the UN peace corps.- Plot :Kwagga Robertse owns a farm shop in the fictional Southern African...	Kwagga Robertse
1991	Sweet 'n Short Sweet 'n Short Sweet 'n Short is a 1991 Leon Schuster movie made in South Africa. It was directed by Gray Hofmeyr.Tagline: Oh Schucks...it's the New South Africa!.- Plot :...	Sweet Coetzee
1993	There's a Zulu On My Stoep There's a Zulu On My Stoep There's a Zulu On My Stoep is a 1993 South African comedy film by the comedy filmmaker Gray Hofmeyr starring Leon Schuster and John Matshikiza...	Rhino Labuschagne
1997	Panic Mechanic	Schucks
1999	Millennium Menace	Schucks
2001	Mr Bones Mr Bones Mr. Bones is a 2001 slapstick comedy film made and set in South Africa. Leon Schuster, well-known figure in the South African film industry, starred in the title role. He also created the story and co-wrote the screenplay...	Bones	R33 million
2004	Oh Schuks... I'm Gatvol Oh Schuks... I'm Gatvol Oh Shucks I'm Gatvol!, is a South African comedy film written, produced and directed by Leon Schuster. He also stars in the film alongside Alfred Ntombela, Gerry the Clown, Bill Flynn and Al Debbo....	Schucks
2005	Mama Jack Mama Jack Mama Jack is a 2005 Leon Schuster movie made in South Africa. It was directed by Gray Hofmeyr and distributed by Nu Metro.Tagline: He's hiding out... in someone else! or alternatively He's back... in black!-Plot:...	Jack Theron Mama
2008	Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past is a 2008 comedy film directed by Gray Hofmeyr, co-written by Gray Hofmeyr and Leon Schuster and starring Leon Schuster, Tongayi Chirisa, Leeanda Reddy, Kaseran Pillay, Meren Reddy...	Bones	R35 million
2010	Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa is a 2010 comedy film directed by Gray Hofmeyr, co-written by Gray Hofmeyr and Leon Schuster and starring Leon Schuster and Alfred Ntombela....	Schuks Tshabalala

Albums

• Leon Schuster
• Groen, Goud en White
• Hie' Kommie Bokke
• My Mates - Die Bokke
• Gautvol in Paradise
• Catchup Song and Every Cricket Hit
• Op Dun Eish

External links

• Official Website