- André van Duin
André van Duin (pseudonym for Adrianus Marinus Kyvon; born
20 February 1947 inRotterdam ) is a Dutch actor (in comedy and theatre), singer, writer and program creator.Television, radio and theatre career
Van Duin was discovered in 1964 when he won the
AVRO talent contest show "Nieuwe Oogst", which gave him the opportunity to debut on television alongside singing father and daughter Willy andWilleke Alberti .From 1967 onwards, André van Duin made regular appearances on Dutch television and took apprenticeship at comedians Snip & Snap's theatre-shows. He did his homework well and in the 1970s he set up his own Revue with
Frans van Dusschoten (playing the stooge) andCorrie van Gorp . These shows were televised on TROS and in 1975 Van Duin won an award for "Dag Dag Heerlijke Lach"In 1972, André van Duin began the radio program
Dik Voormekaar Show . First withRadio Noordzee , later with theNCRV andTROS .2007 saw the premiere of "Andre's Nieuwe Revue". In November 2008 he'll make his Belgian debut with five shows in Antwerp. Producer Joop van den Ende is convinced that Van Duin is still loved in Belgium.
The actor
In 1972 André van Duin debuted as a serious actor in "Het Meisje Met De Blauwe Hoed" ("The Girl With The Blue Hat") playing an army recruit.
In 1981 he pushed the envelope by starring in his own movie; "
Ik ben Joep Meloen " is the story of a piano tuner who sees his "Concerto Grosso" turned down, the rent expires, the love of his life marries another and he can't even arrange his own assassination is a failure. Instead Joep Meloen takes gangsters' advice and jumps in the canal, only to save a troubled singer, played by Corrie van Gorp, from committing suicide. There is still one problem; the gangsters have changed their minds and decided to kill him after all."Ik Ben Joep Meloen" premiered late 1981 and did reasonably well.
In 1982 Van Duin worked on "
De Boezemvriend ", partly an adaptation of the Danny Kaye movie "The Inspector General" which portrays charlatan dentist Fred 'Pas du Pain' van der Zee mistaken for Napoleon's delegate. Several celebrities made an appearance (including Connie 'Vanessa' Breukhoven as Mercedes and the late Andre Hazes who runs the restaurant where Fred avoids the bill by eating meats till he drops)."De Boezemvriend" premiered late 1982 but unlike "Joep Meloen" it was considered a failure. Van Duin didn't enjoy making movies as much as he enjoyed making television programmes and hasn't returned to the big screen since.
The singer
The wacky side
As a singer, André van Duin has quite a number of popular songs to his name. He has had hits such as "Het bananenlied", "Angelique", "De tamme boerenzoon", "File", "Doorgaan" and "Willy Alberti, bedankt". He has also had some hits that grew from stage performances such as "Er staat een paard in de gang" (1981) and "Ik heb hele grote bloemkolen'.
In January 1976, Van Duin had another massive hit with "Willempie". Parents to mentally challenged children however considered it too offensive, even though the song wasn't intended to. "Willempie" was number 1 on AVRO's 'Top Pop'-chart for three weeks, but the song was banned while controversy lasted. Van Duin escaped legal actions by apologising on 'Top Pop' at the end of the month.
A year later Andre van Duin released the more neutral "Ta Ta Ta"; TV-appearances were lightened up by playing a conductor to a choir of penguins and nuns.
In the 1990s he had one of his last major hits with "Pizzalied (Effe Wachten)" (no. 1 late 1993).
The serious side
From his early shows onwards Andre van Duin proved that he had more to offer than just wisecracking humour. Talkshow host Willem Duys attended, took notice and suggested that Van Duin should record a joke-free album (although his version of Morris Albert's "Feelings", the roadblock-themed "File", is a bit of a compromise). Career suicide it wasn't and Van Duin soon went back to the studio to record Volume 2 of the "And're Andre" ("The Other Side Of Andre") series. Other serious albums include "Wij" ("Us") and "Wij Twee" ("Us Two").
In 1983 Andre van Duin broke a string of fun hits by paying tribute to the sunny weather with "Als De Zon Schijnt"; a year later he did likewise with "Want Het Is Zomer" (to the melody of "Because I Love You").
The 1985 volume of "And're Andre" featured cover versions of Dutch songs old and new (the accompanmying TV special also triggered off the "Animal Crakcers" series). Two years later Andre van Duin recorded a duet with Willeke Alberti ("Vrienden Blijven We Altijd"), giving witness to their long-lasting friendship. In the 1990s he recorded Perry Como covers.
Private life
Andre van Duin had a longtime relationship with Wim van der Pluym; they split in the Nineties, shortly afterwards the latter died. Van Duin found a new love in Martin Elferink whom he married in December 23, 2006; ten days after his announcement.
External links
*imdb name|id=0241105|title=André van Duin
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.