# Ben Voss

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{{Short description|South African comedian, actor and satirist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use South African English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Benjamin Voss
| image              = Ben Voss.jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = Ben Voss
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|5|3}}
| birth_place        = [Rhodesia](/source/Rhodesia)
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| nationality        = 
| citizenship        = [South Africa](/source/South_Africa)n
| other_names        = 
| known_for          = [Beauty Ramapelepele](/source/Beauty_Ramapelepele)
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = University of Natal, South Africa
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| website            = {{URL|benvoss.co.za}}
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}}

'''Ben Voss''' (born 3 May 1973) is a [South African](/source/South_African_people) [comedian](/source/comedian), [actor](/source/actor) and [satirist](/source/List_of_satirists_and_satires). He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998. He has also starred in films alongside [John Cleese](/source/John_Cleese) and [Troye Sivan](/source/Troye_Sivan) and in the TV series ''[Desert Rose](/source/Desert_Rose_(TV_series))'' on [Mnet](/source/M-Net) and [Showmax](/source/Showmax).<ref name="bio">{{Cite web|title=Biographical information from www.benvoss.co.za|url=http://www.benvoss.co.za/site/user_data/files/Biography_May_2010.doc|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703032630/http://www.benvoss.co.za/site/user_data/files/Biography_May_2010.doc|archive-date=2010-07-03|access-date=2010-06-12}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
He was born in [Rhodesia](/source/Rhodesia) and educated in [Natal](/source/Natal_Province), [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). He completed an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering at the [University of Natal](/source/University_of_Natal). He also has a post-graduate degree in Human Resources from the same institution. After a [gap year](/source/gap_year) in [South East Asia](/source/South_East_Asia) he returned to [Durban](/source/Durban), [South Africa](/source/South_Africa) to take up a post as an engineer in the paper industry.<ref name="bio"/>

==Performing arts career==
In 1998 he gave up engineering and turned to acting. He performed in [Shakespeare](/source/Shakespeare)'s ''[Twelfth Night](/source/Twelfth_Night)'' in 2001 and played the title role in ''[Macbeth](/source/Macbeth)'' in 2002. He is a multiple [Naledi Award](/source/Naledi_Theatre_Awards) and [Fleur du Cap](/source/Fleur_du_Cap_Theatre_Awards) winner and nominee.

===Stage===

On stage Voss is primarily a satirist. Together with [John van de Ruit](/source/John_van_de_Ruit) (of [Spud](/source/Spud_(novel)) fame),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Van de Ruit |first=John |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm87375897 |title=Spud |date=2007 |publisher=Razorbill |isbn=978-1-59514-170-5 |location=New York |oclc=ocm87375897}}</ref> he produced and performed the [comedy skit](/source/comedy_skit) shows ''Green Mamba'' and ''Black Mamba''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=priscilla |date=2007-11-18 |title=Black … and white |url=https://witness.co.za/archive/2007/11/19/black-and-white-20150430/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=The Witness}}</ref> Both won many of South Africa's major comedy and theatre awards<ref>{{Cite web|title=Awards for Mamba Productions|url=http://www.benvoss.co.za/site/mamba/view/59/3/2010/04/30|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=1 November 2021|archive-date=9 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209152038/http://www.benvoss.co.za/site/mamba/view/59/3/2010/04/30}}</ref> and played in [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), [Zimbabwe](/source/Zimbabwe), [Namibia](/source/Namibia), [Botswana](/source/Botswana), [Swaziland](/source/Eswatini), [Germany](/source/Germany) and the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom), with runs at the [Wimbledon Theatre](/source/Wimbledon_Theatre) in [London](/source/London).

Voss uses comedy as commentary on life in post-[apartheid](/source/apartheid) [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). His shows, ''Beauty and the [B.E.E.](/source/Black_Economic_Empowerment)'' and ''Bend it like Beauty'' (commissioned by the [Oval House Theatre](/source/Ovalhouse) in London)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maxwell |first=Domonic |title=Bend It Like Beauty at Oval House, London SE11 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/bend-it-like-beauty-at-oval-house-london-se11-h8j5j5n70gm |website=[The Times](/source/The_Times)|date=3 June 2010 }}</ref> played in South Africa and abroad. His run at the Oval House Theatre in London was featured on [BBC world news](/source/BBC_World_Service) and he was commissioned to perform at events for the [South African Soccer World Cup](/source/2010_FIFA_World_Cup).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Theatre Review: Bend it Like Beauty at Oval House Theatre|url=https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/bendbeauty-rev.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609185059/http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/bendbeauty-rev.htm |archive-date=2011-06-09 }}</ref> Voss has also shared the stage with [Pieter-Dirk Uys](/source/Pieter-Dirk_Uys)'s "Evita" <ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://pdu.co.za/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=pdu.co.za}}</ref> on his DVD release of Elections and Erections.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Uys |first=Pieter-Dirk |title=Elections & erections: a memoir of fear and fun |date=2002 |publisher=Zebra Press |isbn=978-1-86872-665-3 |edition=1. publ |location=Cape Town}}</ref>

His one-man show ''Benny Bushwhacker''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dennill |first=Bruce |date=2019-09-29 |title=Theatre Interview: Ben Voss - Benny Bushwhacker: Constantly Creating, Or Enjoying Taking The Pith |url=https://www.brucedennill.co.za/2019/09/29/theatre-interview-ben-voss-benny-bushwhacker-constantly-creating-or-enjoying-taking-the-pith/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Bruce Dennill}}</ref> played throughout southern Africa. In 2018 he played the [Evil Queen](/source/Evil_Queen)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dennill |first=Bruce |date=2018-11-04 |title=Theatre Review: Snow White - The Fairest Pantomime In The Land, Or All That Glitters Is Bold |url=https://www.brucedennill.co.za/2018/11/04/theatre-review-snow-white-the-fairest-pantomime-in-the-land-or-all-that-glitters-is-bold/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=Bruce Dennill}}</ref> in the pantomime stage show of Snow White, directed by Janice Honeyman, at the [Joburg Theatre](/source/Joburg_Theatre). In 2021 he was top billed, as one of the ugly sisters, alongside [Desmond Dube](/source/Desmond_Dube) in Janice Honeyman's ''[Cinderella](/source/Cinderella_(Rodgers_and_Hammerstein_musical))''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-25 |title='Cinderella' comes to Joburg Theatre {{!}} Creative Feel |url=https://creativefeel.co.za/2021/06/janice-honeyman-brings-cinderella-to-joburg-theatre/ |access-date=2024-06-08}}</ref> In 2023 he played [Captain Hook](/source/Captain_Hook) in the three-month season of [Peter Pan](/source/Peter_Pan_(1954_musical)).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Pan |url=https://whatsoninjoburg.com/event/peter-pan/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=What's on in Joburg}}</ref> In 2024 he was awarded a star on [Joburg Theatre](/source/Joburg_Theatre)'s walk of fame.

===Film===

Voss's film credits include ''the [Spud](/source/Spud_(film))'' series of movies where Voss plays Mr. Lily, [Spud's](/source/Spud_(film)) art teacher and under-14D/E rugby coach, alongside [Troye Sivan](/source/Troye_Sivan) and [John Cleese](/source/John_Cleese).

He played the lead in Robert Fraser's ''Game'' and the supporting lead in Craig Friemond's drama ''Beyond the River'' in 2017.

===Television===

In 2022, Voss played a lead role in the [MNET](/source/M-Net) and [Showmax](/source/Showmax) production of ''[Desert Rose](/source/Desert_Rose_(TV_series))'' which was released in 63 countries. In 2023 he appeared in the [Emmy](/source/Emmy_Awards) nominated ''[Reyka](/source/Reyka_(TV_series))'' -season 2.

== Awards ==
* [Naledi Award](/source/Naledi_Theatre_Awards) – Best comedic performance
* Naledi Award – Best South African Script
* FNB Vita award – Best Supporting actor
* FNB Vita award – Best Actor
* [Fleur du Cap](/source/Fleur_du_Cap_Theatre_Awards) award – Best Actor
* Three Ovation Awards – [National arts festival](/source/National_Arts_Festival)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Standard Bank Ovation Awards |url=https://sponsorships.standardbank.com/sbgs/sponsorship/arts-and-culture/Naf/Standard-Bank-Ovation-Awards |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=sponsorships.standardbank.com}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.capetowntoday.co.za/Interviews/Actors/Green_Mamba.htm Interview] with John van de Ruit and Ben Voss about the comedy 'Green Mamba'
* [http://www.benvoss.co.za/ Ben Voss's website]
* [http://www.mambaproductions.co.za/ Mamba Productions website]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Voss, Ben}}
Category:Living people
Category:1974 births
Category:University of Natal alumni
Category:21st-century South African dramatists and playwrights
Category:South African male comedians
Category:White South African people
Category:South African drag queens
Category:Male actors from Durban
Category:Writers from Durban
Category:21st-century South African LGBTQ people
Category:1973 births
Category:South African male film actors
Category:South African male television actors
Category:South African male stage actors
Category:South African LGBTQ comedians
Category:20th-century South African dramatists and playwrights

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ben Voss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Voss) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Voss?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.