Nolle Versyp

Arnold (Nolle) Versyp was born on 31 May 1936 in Ghent. He majored in graphics and modern languages, then became teletype at newspaper De Standaard (1957-1958), later held jobs like corrector, illustrator and manager at publisher Snoeck-Ducaju (1958-1963). In 1959 he founded with brother Oswald and others the 'Gentse Theater Vertikaal' where he played nearly all theatrical leads. In 1975-1996 he acted at NTG, later guest starred in other Flemish theaters, the Flemish Royal Ballet and BRT en NOS (Flemish and Dutch public broadcasters), e.g. presenting school programs (radio and TV). He won in 1989 the De Gruyter award for a Molière title part. Nolle Versyp also worked as translator (to Dutch) of plays and books, and a series of drawings of Ghent and the surrounding provinces East- and West-Flanders, near his home (Merelbeke). Since 1996 he worked for Flemish public broadcaster VRT, playing in TV-series such as 'Langs de kade', 'Flikken', 'Alfa Papa Tango', and his most popular part, Dré in the endless soap 'Thuis', co-starring (a first) with bis younger brother Oswald. Bad health stopped Nolle Versyp working, notably rheumatism, and deteriorated to pulmonary fibrosis; after surgery in May he died on 5 October 2006.