Ian Yule (1933 — 3 December 2020[1]) was a British born South African actor and soldier. He had a film career that commenced in the late 1960s and lasted to around the early to mid 2000s. Many of the roles he has played are that of a soldier. The films he has appeared in include Killer Force, in 1976, One Way also released in 1976, Golden Rendezvous in 1977, The Wild Geese in 1978, —Safari 3000 in 1982, City of Blood in 1983, and many more. He was also a stuntman in a few films. He also was a screenwriter and wrote some screen plays including Shamwari in which he starred opposite Ken Gampu. He was a well known actor in South Africa.

Ian Yule
Born1933
Great Britain
Died3 December 2020 (age 87)
Great Britain
Occupation(s)soldier, actor, screenwriter

Background

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Ian Yule was born in the UK some time before the second world war.[2] During his career he was a member of the British Army's Royal Artillery[citation needed], Parachute Regiment[citation needed] and Special Air Service[citation needed] and served in the Korean War, taking part in the Battle of Inchon[citation needed] and Battle of Chosin Reservoir[citation needed], and later served in the Rhodesian Security Forces and South African Defence Force as well as serving as a mercenary in Mad Mike Hoare's outfit (the film the Wild Geese is based on Hoare's exploits).[3][4] As an actor in the action genre he was recognised for his accomplishments.[5]

Film career

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1950s–1960s

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Yule's first association with films goes back to the 1950s when he had a role as a stuntman in the 1959 film Ben-Hur.[6] He also did stunt work in The Longest Day which was released in 1962.[7] His early acting roles included playing the part of Andy Wilson in 1967 film Wild Season which was directed by Emil Nofal.[8] In 1968, he had a recurring role as Freddy in the television series Schatzsucher unserer Tage which was directed by Rolf von Sydow.[9][10]

1970s–1980s

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He played the part of Trooper Dillon in the David Millin directed Shangani Patrol which was released in 1970.[11] In the 1978 Wild Geese, playing the part of Sgt. Tosh Donaldson, he was part of a cast that included Richard Burton, Roger Moore and Richard Harris.[12][13]

Starring opposite Ken Gampu, he appeared in the 1982 film Shamwari. The film bore a similarity to an earlier film, The Defiant Ones that starred Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis. Like the characters in that film, there is racial hatred between the two of them. They escape from a chain gang detail. To survive they have to get rid of their hatred for each other.[14] Yule was led to believe that the film was a flop, however John Hume who produced the film was marketing it under a different name and making money from it.[15]

In 1986, he appeared as Bill Smith in the film Jake Speed.[16] He played the part of Max Wharton in the 1988 film, City of Blood.[17]

1990s–2000s

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He played the part of Harvey in the 1995 film Cyborg Cop III which was directed by Yossi Wein.[18] In the 1999 film Operation Delta Force 3: Clear _target, he played the part of General Hightower.[19]

Possibly his last film was Platinum [de] which was released in 2004.[20]

Later years

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In mid-December 2015, Yule arrived at Heathrow Airport from South Africa, in poor health and destitute. He had a carry bag, his knobkerrie walking sticks and a couple of shirts and underwear. He was met and collected from the airport by a volunteer, who had been moved by his plight and subsequently cared for him for some two months.

After being helped by one organisation, the South African Legion, the SSAFA were instrumental in getting him the care he required for his heart problems and severe arthritis. He was later hospitalised at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester where he died on 3 December 2020.[21]

Filmography

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Film Actor
Title Year Role Director Notes
Wild Season 1967 Andy Wilson Emil Nofal
The Professor and the Beauty Queen 1967 Ed, henchman 2 Jamie Uys
Dr Kalie 1968 Wall of Death barker Ivan Hall
Majuba: Heuwel van Duiwe 1968 Deserter David Millin
Danie Bosman: Die verhaal van die grootste S.A. komponis 1969 Patrick, barman Elmo de Witt
Scotty & Co. 1970 Snowy Peter Henkel
Stop Exchange 1970 Lefty Howard Rennie
Satan's Harvest 1970 Jonas Wade / Jake Wade George Montgomery
Banana Beach 1970 David Millin
Shangani Patrol 1970 Trooper Dillon David Millin
Vengeance Cops 1971 Con Cavallas Ivan Hall
Die Banneling 1971 Dekker David Millin
The Winners 1972 Andy Wilson Emil Nofal, Roy Sargeant
Dog Squad 1973 Andy Wilson Tim Spring
The Big Game 1973 Task Force Leader Robert Day
Vreemde Wêreld 1974 Homicidal mental patient Jürgen Goslar
Olie Kolonie 1975 Neil Hetherington
Sell A Million 1975 Knuckles Ian Hamilton
De Wet's Spoor 1975 Maj. Coleridge Howard Rennie
Killer Force 1976 Edward Woods Val Guest
One Way 1976 Stiffy Sidney Hayers
My Way II 1972 Jans Rautenbach
Golden Rendezvous 1977 McCloskey Ashley Lazarus
Mister Deathman 1977 Bill Michael D. Moore
The Wild Geese 1978 Tosh Donaldson Andrew V. McLaglen
Zulu Dawn 1979 Cpl. Fields Douglas Hickox
Shamwari 1982 Bill Matthews Clive Harding
Safari 3000 1982 Freddie Selkirk Harry Hurwitz
For King and Country 1983 Sergeant Major Bob Hird TV movie
The Lion's Share 1985 Scotty Norman Cohen Voice, Uncredited
Jake Speed 1986 Bill Smith Andrew Lane
City of Blood 1987 Max Wharton Darrell Roodt
Rage to Kill 1988 Roy Slade David Winters
Diamond in the Rough 1988 Ian Richard Oleksiak
River of Death 1989 Long John Silver Steve Carver
Accidents 1989 Warren Zimmer Gideon Amir
Young Survivors 1990 Ginger Douglas Bristow TV movie
The Lost World 1992 Peterson Timothy Bond
Return to the Lost World 1992 Peterson Timothy Bond
Point of Impact 1993 Martin Cullen Bob Misiorowski
Dark Desires: Thelma 1994 Sam Garfield Jean-Louis Daniel TV movie
Lunarcop 1995 Lester Boaz Davidson
Cyborg Cop III 1995 Harvey Cartel Yossi Wein
Warhead 1996 Colonel No. 1 Mark Roper
Orion's Key 1996 Odd Job Mark Roper
Ernest Goes to Africa 1997 Ol' Man at Flea Market John R. Cherry III
Merchant of Death 1997 Carl Pembroke Yossi Wein
Black Velvet Band 1998 Yeoman Warder Robert Knights TV movie
Operation Delta Force 3: Clear _target 1998 General Alan Hightower Mark Roper
Cold Harvest 1999 Marshall Isaac Florentine
Traitor's Heart 1999 Jack (barman) Danny Lerner
Die Spesenritter 1999 Jörg Grünler TV movie
Zugvögel der Liebe 2001 George Richard Engel TV movie
Check-in to Disaster 2001 Wim Vanderbourgh Uwe Frießner TV movie
Platinum [de] 2004 Land Owner, Madagascar Martin Enlen TV movie[22] (final film role)
Films Writer
Title Year Role Director Notes #
Shamwari 1982 story and screenplay Clive Harding
Space Mutiny 1988 Writer (uncredited) David Winters
Rage to Kill 1988 Co-writer David Winters
Return to Justice 1990 Original screenplay Vincent G. Cox
Tolla is Tops 1990 Co-writer Elmo de Witt
River of Diamonds 1991 Co-writer Robert J. Smawley [23]
Television Actor
Title Episode Year Role Director Notes #
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Der gelbe Aktenkoffer 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Schüsse in der Savanne 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Die Farm der Mrs. Collins 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Die Polizeipatrouille 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Der große Fund 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Die Hängebrücke 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Rivalen 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Öl im Kral 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Die einsame Insel 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Notruf aus der Teufelsschlucht 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Die Geisterstadt 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Schatzsucher unserer Tage Gefährliche Heimkehr 1968 Freddy Rolf von Sydow
Dr. med. Mark Wedmann – Detektiv inbegriffen Station ohne Hoffnung 1974 Jack Alfredo Medori
Härte 10 [de] Piet 1975 Gordon Flemyng Mini series
John Ralling – Abenteuer um Diamanten In jenen frühen Tagen 1975 Erich Neureuther
Les diamants du président ? 1977 Claude Boissol Mini series
The Riverman ? 1983 Jim Ivan Hall Mini series
1922 1984 Ivan Macready Edgar Bold
Auf Achse Konvoi 1983 Georg Hartmut Griesmayr
Tarzan: The Epic Adventures Tarzan and the Moon God 1997 Manian William Tannen [24]

References

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  1. ^ "'Larger than life, flamboyant' film star and war hero spent last years of his life in Chichester".
  2. ^ South African Legion, UNITED KINGDOM & EUROPE, 14 March 2016 – News, Ian Yule
  3. ^ The Last Gladiators: Fiancés of Death, By Michael Walsh – Chapter Eight, Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Hoare
  4. ^ "Ian Yule – SA Legion".
  5. ^ Hollywood.comIan Yule
  6. ^ Svenska FilminstitutetBen-Hur (1959)
  7. ^ BFIIan Yule
  8. ^ World Filmography: 1967, By Peter Cowie, Derek Elley – Page 483 South Africa
  9. ^ IMDbIan Yule, Filmography
  10. ^ Filmer.cz – Schatzsucher unserer Tage, Seriál
  11. ^ Vernon Johns SocietyShangani Patrol (1970)[usurped]
  12. ^ Cinema.com – Wild Geese, The (1978) – Cast
  13. ^ TV GuideThe Wild Geese
  14. ^ Hollywood's Image of the South: A Century of Southern Films, By Katrina Daly Thompson – Page 58
  15. ^ Noseweek, Issue No. 55, 1 April 2004 – THE SHOW(DOWN) MUST GO ON Archived 28 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Turner Classic MoviesIan Yule, Filmography
  17. ^ TV GuideCity Of Blood
  18. ^ LetterboxdCyborg Cop III 1995 Directed by Yossi Wein, Cast
  19. ^ Rotten TomatoesOperation Delta Force 3: Clear _target (1999, Cast
  20. ^ CSFD.czDer weisse Afrikaner (TV film)
  21. ^ South African Legion, United Kingdom & Europe, 14 March 2016 – News, Ian Yule
  22. ^ IMDb – Ian Yule, Actor
  23. ^ IMDb – Ian Yule, Writer
  24. ^ IMDb – Ian Yule, Actor
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chat 14
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