Ian Yule


Ian Yule is a British born South African actor and former soldier. He had a film career that commenced in the late 1960s and lasted to around the early to mid 2000s. Many of the roles he has played are that of a soldier. The films he has appeared in include Killer Force, in 1976, One Way also released in 1976, Golden Rendezvous in 1977, The Wild Geese in 1978, Safari 3000 in 1982, City of Blood in 1983, and many more. He was also a stuntman in a few films. He also was a screenwriter and wrote some screen plays including Shamwari in which he starred opposite Ken Gampu. He was a well known actor in South Africa.

Background

Ian Yule was born in the UK some time before the second world war. During his career he was a member of the British Army's Royal Artillery, Parachute Regiment and Special Air Service and served in the Korean War, taking part in the Battle of Inchon and Battle of Chosin Reservoir, and later served in the Rhodesian Security Forces and South African Defence Force as well as serving as a mercenary in Mad Mike Hoare's outfit. As an actor in the action genre he was recognised for his accomplishments.

Film career

1950s–1960s

Yule's first association with films goes back to the 1950s when he had a role as a stuntman in the 1959 film Ben-Hur. He also did stunt work in The Longest Day which was released in 1962. His early acting roles included playing the part of Andy Wilson in 1967 film Wild Season which was directed by Emil Nofal. In 1968, he had a recurring role as Freddy in the television series Schatzsucher unserer Tage which was directed by Rolf von Sydow.

1970s–1980s

He played the part of Trooper Dillon in the David Millin directed Shangani Patrol which was released in 1970. In the 1978 Wild Geese, playing the part of Sgt. Tosh Donaldson, he was part of a cast that included Richard Burton, Roger Moore and Richard Harris.
Yule introduced Col. "Mad" Mike Hoare to Wild Geese producer Euan Lloyd. Hoare was a soldier of fortune and had made a sound impression on Lloyd. He became the military advisor for the film and added to realism of the film.
Starring opposite Ken Gampu, he appeared in the 1982 film Shamwari. The film bore a similarity to an earlier film, The Defiant Ones that starred Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis. Like the characters in that film, there is racial hatred between the two of them. They escape from a chain gang detail. To survive they have to get rid of their hatred for each other. Yule was led to believe that the film was a flop, however John Hume who produced the film was marketing it under a different name and making money from it.
In 1986, he appeared as Bill Smith in the film Jake Speed. He played the part of Max Wharton in the 1988 film, City of Blood.

1990s–2000s

He played the part of Harvey in the 1995 film Cyborg Cop III which was directed by Yossi Wein. In the 1999 film ', he played the part of General Hightower.
Possibly his last film was ' which was released in 2004.

Later years

In mid-December 2015, Yule arrived in the UK, Heathrow, from South Africa. He was in poor health and destitute. He had a carry bag, a couple of shirts & underwear and his knobkerrie walking sticks. He was met and collected from the airport by a volunteer, who had been moved by his plight, and subsequently cared for him for some 2 months.
After being helped by one organisation, the South African Legion, the SSAFA were instrumental in getting him the care he required for his heart problems and severe arthritis. He was later hospitalised at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester.

Filmography

TitleRoleDirectorYearNotes #
Shamwaristory and screenplayClive Harding1982
Space MutinyWriter David Winters1988
Rage to Kill Co-writerDavid Winters1988
Return to JusticeOriginal screenplayVincent G. Cox1990
Tolla is Tops Co-writerElmo de Witt1990
River of DiamondsCo-writerRobert J. Smawley1991

TitleEpisodeRoleDirectorYearNotes #
Schatzsucher unserer TageDer gelbe AktenkofferFreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageSchüsse in der SavanneFreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageDie Farm der Mrs. Collins FreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageDie Polizeipatrouille FreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageDer große FundFreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageDie HängebrückeFreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageRivalen FreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageÖl im KralFreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageDie einsame InselFreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageNotruf aus der Teufelsschlucht FreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageDie GeisterstadtFreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Schatzsucher unserer TageGefährliche HeimkehrFreddyRolf von Sydow1968
Dr. med. Mark Wedmann – Detektiv inbegriffenStation ohne HoffnungJackAlfredo Medori1974
PietGordon Flemyng1975Mini series
John Ralling – Abenteuer um Diamanten In jenen frühen Tagen Erich Neureuther1975
Les diamants du président?1977Mini series
The Riverman?JimIvan Hall1983Mini series
1922Ivan MacreadyEdgar Bold1984
Auf AchseKonvoiGeorgHartmut Griesmayr1983
Tarzan: The Epic AdventuresTarzan and the Moon GodManianWilliam Tannen1997