Ian Roberts is a South African actor, playwright and singer best known to television viewers for his roles in the drama series Arende and Snitch, and as the character Boet in a series of long-running advertisements for Castrol motor oil. Roberts was born in Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape and raised on a citrus farm near the town. He attended St. Andrew's Preparatory School and St. Andrew's College in Grahamstown. After completing high school he performed his compulsory national service in the South African Army, which he completed in 1971. After a variety of different jobs and a course in photography at the Port Elizabeth Technical College from 1973 to 1975, Roberts enrolled at Rhodes University in 1976 for a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Speech, Drama and Social Anthropology. Ian Roberts has built up an extensive acting career in theatre, television and film. Roberts was married to South African actress Michele Botes, but the couple divorced in 1999. They have two children.

Filmography

• 2025A Kind of Madness — Dan Hart
• Appels en Tee — Jakkals Boshoff
• 2021Pusha Pressa Phanda
• Reyka — John Tyrone
• 2018Mia and the White Lion — John's Father
• 2017Van der Merwe — Oupa Van der Merwe
• Cape Town — Gerbrand Vos
• 2015Tremors 5: Bloodlines — Den Bravers
• 2014The Windmill — Doctor Rossouw
• 2013Babalas — Boet
• 2013Bakgat 3 — Basjan
• 2013Musiek Vir Die Agtergrond — Chris
• 2013Stuur Groete Aan Mannetjies Roux — Frans
• The Wild — Karel van Reenen
• 2010Bakgat 2 — Basjan du Preez
• 2010Eternity — Professor Tevis Shapiro
• 2010The Race-Ist — Noel Oosthuizen
• 2008Bakgat! — Basjan du Preez
• Erfsondes — Pote du Toit
• 2006Number 10 — Marius Kramer
• 20053 Needles — Hallyday, the Plantation Owner
• 2005Tsotsi — Captain Smit
• King Solomon's Mines — Sir Henry
• 2004Red Dust — Piet Müller
• Arsenaal — Jack Degenaar
• 2001Askari — Ripshaw
• 2000I Dreamed of Africa — Mike Donovan
• 1999A Reasonable Man — Chris Van Rooyen
• 1998Paljas — Frans
• 1998Sweepers — Yager
• 1998Tarzan and the Lost City — Captain Dooley
• 1997Mandela and de Klerk — Kobie Coetsee
• Onder Draai Die Duiwel Rond — Thys Tredoux
• 1996Inside — Guard Moolman
• 1995Cry, the Beloved Country — Evans
• 1995Cyborg Cop III — Sheen
• 1994In a Time of Violence: The Line — Lt. Danie Visser
• 1994Kalahari Harry — Kalahari Harry Morgan, Screenplay
• Daisy de Melker — Sid de Melker
• 1992The Power of One — Hoppie Gruenewald
• 1990The Fourth Reich — Johannes van der Walt
• Arende — Sloet Steenkamp
• 1989Cape Rebel — Sloet Steenkamp
• 1988Dancing in the Forest — Thor
• 1988The Crossing
• The Play on One — Joseph
• 1987Jane and the Lost City — Carl
• 1987You Must Be Joking! Too — Various
• 1986Heroes — Hendrik 'Hennie' du Preez
• 1986Night of Fear — Steve Vosloo
• 1985Wild Maneuvres — Corp. White
• 1983Anna Meintjies
• Wasted Spring — Hermaans Cronjé
• 1982The Horse Smuggler

Appearances as themselves (1)

• Musiekpaniek — Self