Age, Biography and Wiki

William Modisane was born on 28 August, 1923 in South Africa, is a South African writer, actor and journalist (1923–1986). Discover William Modisane's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 63 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation Writer, journalist, actor
Age 63 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born 28 August, 1923
Birthday 28 August
Birthplace South Africa
Date of death 1986
Died Place N/A
Nationality South Africa

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 28 August. He is a member of famous writer with the age 63 years old group.

William Modisane Height, Weight & Measurements

At 63 years old, William Modisane height not available right now. We will update William Modisane's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

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William Modisane Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is William Modisane worth at the age of 63 years old? William Modisane’s income source is mostly from being a successful writer. He is from South Africa. We have estimated William Modisane's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income writer

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Timeline

1923

William Modisane (28 August 1923 – 1 March 1986), better known as Bloke Modisane, was a South African writer, actor and journalist.

William "Bloke" Modisane, the eldest son of Joseph and Ma-Willie Modisane, grew up in Sophiatown, a multiracial suburb in Johannesburg, South Africa.

His father was murdered and his sister died of malnutrition.

To make ends meet, his mother ran a shebeen.

As Modisane would write in his autobiography: "My mother wanted a better life for her children, a kind of insurance against poverty by trying to give me a prestige profession, and if necessary would go to jail whilst doing it."

1950

He joined Drum magazine as a journalist and became one of "the Drum Boys" during Drum's halcyon days in the 1950s, along with Henry Nxumalo, Can Themba, Es'kia Mphahlele and Lewis Nkosi.

Modisane was also the jazz critic at Drum's sister publication, the weekly tabloid Golden City Post.

His nickname of "Bloke" was inspired a character in the Leslie Charteris novels featuring "The Saint".

Modisane tried to facilitate non-racial progress in the arts by making concerts and theatre available to Black audiences and tried to further the efforts of the Arts Federation and the Union of South African Artists, both of which were non-racial.

He wrote a number of short stories that were published in Drum.

One such story, "The Situation", derived from the Tsotsitaal (slang) for educated Blacks who rise above their station (i.e. situated above their station) but do not really fit into their new milieu.

(Don Mattera mentioned this when describing the journalists: "There was a definite class division. We were in the streets, and they were in the desks. And we used to call such people situations.")

Modisane found an outlet in acting.

1958

He joined the African Theatre Workshop and played in the first production of Athol Fugard's No-Good Friday (1958).

1959

He shared the writing credits on Come Back, Africa, a 1959 film filmed mainly in Sophiatown.

Becoming frustrated by the political situation and oppression under the apartheid regime, Modisane moved in 1959 to England, where in 1963 his autobiography, Blame Me on History, was published.

This detailed his despair at the bulldozing of Sophiatown (mirroring Can Themba's short story "Requiem for Sophiatown") and his frustration and anger with apartheid.

1960

In the early 1960s Modisane settled in Dortmund, West Germany, where he died in 1986 at the age of 63.

1964

He appeared in an uncredited role in the 1964 movie Guns at Batasi, which starred Richard Attenborough, John Leyton, and Mia Farrow.

1966

As a result, the book was banned in South Africa in 1966.

Modisane continued acting and had a leading role in Jean Genet's play The Blacks at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

1968

In the 1968 action classic Dark of the Sun, Modisane had a small but memorable supporting role as Corporal Kataki, a sensitive soldier caught up in the rage and horror of the 1960s Congo civil wars.

This particular film starred Rod Taylor, Kenneth More, and Yvette Mimieux.

It was a major box-office success when first released.