Wikus du Toit
A multi-hyphenate creative force in South African entertainment, he moves seamlessly between acting, comedy, and production, shaping the country's unique comedic voice.
Born 1972 (age 54)·Birthday: June 18·Generation X
Biography
Wikus du Toit's career is a testament to the vibrant, DIY spirit of South African comedy and television. He emerged as part of a generation that built a local industry with sharp wit and resourcefulness. While perhaps best known to international audiences for his role as the hapless yet endearing Wikus in the cult classic 'The Gods Must Be Crazy II,' his impact at home runs much deeper. Du Toit is a versatile producer, actor, and writer who has contributed to numerous South African TV shows, stage productions, and films, often infusing them with a distinct Afrikaner humor and charm. He operates behind the scenes as a composer and director as readily as he appears in front of the camera, embodying the collaborative, jack-of-all-trades ethos necessary in a relatively small market. His work, whether in satire or family entertainment, helps reflect and define the complexities and quirks of contemporary South African life, making him a familiar and trusted figure in the country's cultural landscape.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Wikus was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Wikus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Wikus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the memorable role of Wikus in the internationally successful film 'The Gods Must Be Crazy II.'
- Has produced and acted in numerous popular South African television series and theatre productions.
- Works as a composer and director, showcasing a broad range of creative skills within the entertainment industry.
Did You Know?
He is sometimes confused with the character name 'Wikus' from the film 'District 9,' but they are not the same person.
His work often involves collaborations with other prominent South African comedians and production houses.
He has been active in the industry since the early 1990s, following the end of cultural boycotts.
“I'm not a musician, I'm a comedian who sometimes plays the piano.”
