Neels Van Jaarsveld
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1979-06-20

Neels Van Jaarsveld

Neels van Jaarsveld is a South African actor, director, and producer renowned for his versatile performances across television, film, and theatre. Born on June 20 in Kuils River, Cape Town, he relocated to Johannesburg during his early years. He completed his schooling at Hoërskool Linden and earned a BA in Drama from the University of Stellenbosch . Van Jaarsveld's career began in theatre, where he gained recognition for his role in Die Goue Seun at the Little Karoo Arts Festival in Oudtshoorn, earning him the Best Newcomer award . He is also a founding member of Tart 'n Koggel Produksies and has written plays such as Geen hierjy nie! . In television, he is best known for portraying Dr. Gideon Basson in the Afrikaans soap opera Binnelanders and for his role in the Klipdrift brandy commercials, where he became affectionately known as the "Eish" guy . He has also appeared in series like Fynskrif, Backstage, and On the Couch. In film, Van Jaarsveld has showcased his talent in various roles. Notably, he portrayed the character of Geyer in Die Pro (2015), an Afrikaans surf film based on Leon de Villiers' novel . He also played Agent in Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey (2017), a biographical drama about a civil servant's life and career. Beyond acting, Van Jaarsveld has been recognized for his work in the industry. He received the Best Actor award at the 2019 Catharsis Film Festival in Belgium for his performance in Siklus and has been nominated for various accolades, including Best Actor at the Kanna KKNK for his role in Melk & Vleis . On a personal note, Van Jaarsveld married Jeanne in April 2017, but the couple announced their separation in 2018 . In March 2025, he became engaged to Gerna Peterson, sharing the news on social media with the caption “WE GO STRONG” . As of 2025, Van Jaarsveld continues to be active in the entertainment industry, with recent roles in the romantic comedy Semi-Soeter and the drama series Die Nuusmakers.

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