Bio
Eric Nobbs was a South African actor known for his roles in predominantly Afrikaans television series including Sterk Skemer, Gauteng-aleng, Known Gods, Geraldina die Tweede and Lui Maar Op, Belinda.
Eric made his debut on the professional stage in the 1978 PACT (Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal) production of Die Keiser by Bartho Smit and worked for the remainder of the year under contract to SWAPAC.
In 1979 he returned to PACT, an association which would continue until 1986.
During this period, he established himself as a leading actor in such diverse roles as Faan in Faan se Stasie; Org in Pa Maak vir my 'n Vlier Pa; Bezuidenhout in The Road to Slagtersnek (Die Verhoor by Andr P. Brink); Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire and Cyril in Huis op Horings.
In 1995 he started to produce his own shows and has subsequently toured South Africa and Namibia successfully with his one-man shows.
Amongst his favourite film and television roles are Cpl. Botes in Boetie Gaan Border Toe, Johnny Roodt in 1945, Pa Visser in Sien Jy Nou, Lotter in Ma-Plotters and Hans Horrel in Die Meester.
Other work includes Wynkan in Sterk Skemer (SABC2, 1999); Boompie in Een Skoenlapper (SABC2, 2001); Frans Roos in Gauteng-aleng (SABC2, 2003, 2004); Dries Liebenberg in Known Gods (M-Net 2006, SABC 2008) and Cyril/Cy in Geraldina die Tweede (kykNET, 2007).
On stage, Eric is known for Doppers en Filistyne (C.J Langenhoven), his first one-man show; Pieter de Witt in Donkerland, Deon Opperman's epic drama Die Skandaal, the farce which he co-wrote with Deon Opperman and Lizz Meiring; and Deon Opperman's festival hit One Man's Life.
He has also had great success with two of his other one-man shows, Broekbrein created by Eric and written by Chris Vorster; and Deon Opperman's Tell Me the Truth.
In 2007/08 Eric toured the festival circuit with the P.G. du Plessis comedy hit Sophia Mentz Beredder Haar Boedel in which he played the male lead Tor Mentz and he also had a very successful tour with Doppers en Filistyne.
In 1985 he received the Johannesburg Civic Theatre Trophy as well as a Vita Theatre Award for his interpretation of Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire as well as Best Actor nominations for Pa Maak vir my 'n Vlier Pa (1985), Ma-Plotters (1988), Die Meester (1992) and Sterk Skemer (2000).
His performance in One Man's Life earned him a nomination for a Fleur du Cap award in 1999. In July 2002 he won FNB Vita Theatre Awards as Best Lead Actor for his portrayal of Albert Lombaard in Broekbrein as well as for the Best New South African Play (as producer/creator) of Broekbrein.
He also played Oom Schalk Lourens in Leopards, Love Potions And Other Marico Tales, in 2012.
In 2016 he starred as pathologist Doctor Fritz Barnard in the crime drama series Die Byl (The Axe), loosely based on the real life South African detective Piet Byleveld.
Eric died on Sunday 23 October, 2022, at the age of 68. The cause of his death was not made known.