- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGcao Coma
- N!xau, a San from the Kalahari Desert, was discovered by director Jamie Uys and cast in the lead role in the 1980 movie The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980). He received only a few hundred dollars for his work in that film, but was astute enough to negotiate for over half a million for his appearance in the sequel, The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989). He reportedly suffered from tuberculosis during his life, and in early July 2003, Namibian officials based in the remote area of the Kalahari where N!xau lived, confirmed his death, though the exact cause of death was unknown. His age when he died was estimated to be 59, as not even N!xau himself was sure of his birthdate.
- IMDb mini biography by: kdeguilme@erols.com
- SpouseKora(? - July 5, 2003) (his death, 6 children)
- After his film career faded, he became a farmer.
- Demanded to be paid paid 800,000 South African rand in advance before repeating his role in The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989). He insisted the money was needed for a cinder-block house with electricity and a water pump for him, his three wives, and their children.
- His name is a usual transliteration of his original language, Ungwatsi, which uses clicking sounds that have no equivalent letter in the Roman alphabet.
- At first not knowing the value of paper money, N!xau let his first wages, $300, blow away. However, by the time of The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989) he had learned the value of money, demanding several hundred thousand dollars before agreeing to be recast in the film.
- When he was discovered by Jamie Uys, the South African director of the film The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980), he had only had minimal exposure to modern life. He had only seen three white people in his life before being cast and had never seen a settlement larger than the houses of the San people.
- The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1990) - 600,000 South African Rand (approx. $240,000 US)
- The Gods Must Be Crazy (1984) - $300
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