BIO
Neil Sandilands recently starred in Netflix’s hit sci-fi/fantasy drama series “Sweet Tooth.” Sandilands shines as General Abbot, a self-appointed general who leads through wit, intimidation, and quirkiness and received an Emmy nomination (2023) for his performance.
Recent film titles include “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (2024), “London Calling” (2023), “Slay” (2023), “Wetiko” (2022) and Academy Nominated “News of the World” (2020) directed by Paul Greengrass. Sandilands stars as Wilhelm Leonberger opposite Tom Hanks.
A master of disguise, Sandilands starred as super villain Clifford Devoe/The Thinker on The CW’s hit show “The Flash.” Additional television credits include the contentious, mythological character Titus in “The 100” for The CW, AMC/Sundance TV’s “Hap and Leonard” (opposite James Purefoy, Michael K. Williams, Christina Hendricks), “House MD,” “The Americans” and “NCIS: LA.” The list is long as he started his professional career as a child star in 1989.
Born in the mining town of Randfontein, South Africa, Sandilands is arguably one of the country’s most versatile actors, bringing characters to life in film and television for over three decades. He started his professional acting career at age fourteen. Sandilands is the eldest of three children, his father worked as a mining professional and his mother as a primary school teacher. He attended boarding school in neighboring town, Krugersdorp, and with the help of an encouraging teacher booked his first television acting gig in “Meester” (The Master) in 1989.
Sandilands received his bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from the Rand Afrikaans University. He also received an honorary award for his contribution to Arts & Culture from the University, having won its Theatre Festival three years consecutively, with plays that he had written and starred in. He also initiated an International Film Festival.
July 2022 saw Neil Sandilands being nominated as best supporting actor by the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) for his work in DAM (Showmax) as well as a South African Music Award (SAMA) for best adult contemporary Afrikaans album for his debut album “Sangoma Sandilands & Jou Pa se Posse – Maanskyn”. The music of this album also featured as the soundtrack for M-Net Originals 2022 hit show “Desert Rose” in which Sandilands portrays the troubled patriarch “Freddy Fingers”. Sandilands sports local South African Nr1 Radio positions for his Afrikaans tracks “Woestynroos” and “Huistoe”.
By 2000 Sandilands was a household name in South Africa. He is well known for his portrayal of Bart Kruger in the South African soap opera “7de Laan.” However, Sandilands had his sights on an international career, and has made the transition seamlessly. Sandilands crossed the international divide in 2003 with the arthouse film “Proteus” by Canadian director John Greyson. While Sandilands can currently be seen appearing in projects with a global reach, he still works often in South Africa where he performs in his native tongue, Afrikaans (English is his second language).
As a musician Sandilands released two full length albums and two EP’s. His debut album “Sangoma Sandilands & Jou Pa se Posse – Maanskyn” (2021), in his native tongue, Afrikaans, leaped to Number 1 on iTunes South Africa’s charts in 24 hours. In 2023 he released “Allegaarkie vir ’n Askeet”, his second album. Sandilands views his “work” as musician more as an artistic, literary offering to his country of birth and his native tongue, Afrikaans. It remains his hobby. He collaborated with the cream of South African musicians to produce these albums; writing, composing, performing lead vocals and playing the ukulele.
Accolades for Sandilands include being a recipient of the South African Academy of Arts and Sciences award for his directorial work on “Impresario” – a 21-episode documentary. In 2014 he received a Clio, also as a documentary director. As an actor he has received numerous nominations and awards. Notably a “Fleur du Cap” for his work in theatre.
Sandilands is most proud of the fact that he played rugby in South Africa, America, England, Wales and Ireland, and regards the South African Rugby World Cup victory in 2023, for the 4th time, a miraculous anomaly. He enjoys fishing and cites his philosophical development as being most influenced by Camus, Wittgenstein, Deleuze and Nietzsche, in reverse order. He would love to portray Nietzsche or the character Meursault from Camus’ “L’Étranger”.
Sandilands currently splits his time between South Africa, and Los Angeles, California. He is represented by Stewart Talent and managed by Luber Roklin Entertainment (USA). In South Africa he is represented by Figjam Artists Agency.
“Vivid, flamboyant, thoroughly professional, he doubtlessly brings an electric excitement to both stage and screen that few actors can match.”
Henry Mylne, Director