LEON'S ORDEAL IS NO JOKE
YOU South Africa|9 May 2024
Pain has dominated entertainer Leon Schuster's life after a serious back injury landed him in bed. But despite being depressed he remains hopeful he will recover so he can get back to work
NADINE RAMONGANE
LEON'S ORDEAL IS NO JOKE

HE’S the guy who’s had South Africans in stitches over the decades, sending people up and ripping everyone off in a series of noholds-barred movies.

But the Leon Schuster of today isn’t finding anything to laugh about. He’s spending his days in bed, swathed in layers of blankets.

Deep furrows are carved into his face and as he tries to sit up he clenches his jaw and lets out a groan. He’s in agony, the 72-year-old veteran entertainer says. “I’ve been through a rough patch, man, through absolute hell,” he tells YOU.

“I’m a bit depressed. This thing has been going on too long – it’s almost 10 months since my first back surgery.”

His ordeal began last August when he went under the knife after injuring himself on the set of one of his movies.

He’d been recovering well until he had a fall that required a second surgery and more recovery. Then complications arose and he’s been confined to bed for weeks ever since.

Leon is scheduled to have another operation – which he hopes will fix things once and for all – but first he has to shed 15kg to make sure he’s in the best shape possible to avoid complications.

Despite his physical problems his spirit remains unbroken. Leon, who relies on a walking stick when he needs to get up, is determined to recover and get to doing what he loves most: making films.

“I’m not in a good place, I’ll be honest with you,” he says. “But I’m in a grateful place. And that’s why I try to lie here in a straight position and keep my spirits up with a bit of light-heartedness.

“I trust in the Lord and the doctors – these are my two sources of strength from which I draw my hope.”

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 9 May 2024-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 9 May 2024-Ausgabe von YOU South Africa.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS YOU SOUTH AFRICAAlle anzeigen
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 Minuten  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 Minuten  |
14 November 2024