I mean it's obvious why he did it in the movie but why in real life also like 1 1/2 year after Spetters? Paul Verhoeven didn't really explain it in his director commentary only that he was in a lot of pain. Did he do it simply because he could relate to Rien or did he have other problems? It's very sad to listen that he could have been a huge star because it was obvious Verhoeven was gonna use him a lot more.
shareI don't think it's something anyone ever really knows.
It is too bad, though. He showed a lot of promise as an actor.
(OT: I may have to upgrade to a "Spetters" DVD)
I'm not mean--not..that mean...
It's usually explained as "he couldn't bear the life of a filmstar", but this should be seen in a Dutch context. In Holland, very few people (if any) can actually make a living with acting in Dutch films. For most this means they are stars one minute and unemployed the next and forced to go back to a life as most of us live it. But when an actor is succesful, he may be cast for another film one or two years later, which is what happenened for Hans van Tongeren (De Smaak van Water; Het Oponthoud, both 1982)
But I guess we'll never know the real reason. Very sad, he was a very talented actor.
Having seen Spetters when it opened in US, I was shocked to learn only a few years ago he had committed suicide so soon after Spetters. I agree you could have crossed over to American films. I did see him in one US film, Summer Lovers with Daryl Hannah, not a very good movie, but he was good in his brief scenes. I had always wondered if Hannah (worked in Blade Runner with Rutger Hauer) was the connection who got him the role. Even though it must be very difficult to break out of Dutch film into mainstream, almost all the leads in Soldier of Orange were cast in major US releases, and are still working in US films.
shareIn Holland, very few people (if any) can actually make a living with acting in Dutch films. For most this means they are stars one minute and unemployed the next and forced to go back to a life as most of us live it. But when an actor is succesful, he may be cast for another film one or two years later,That's why most (if not all) Dutch actors also work on stage a lot, and even the biggest starts frequently appear in TV series (in the Netherlands someone like Brad Pitt would still star or guest star in TV series from time to time).
Maybe he had really sad life trauma.
Ready are you? What know you of ready?
An official statement has never really been issued following Hans van Tongeren's death, except that it was a suicide. But people who have worked closely with him, specifically on Spetters, have stated that Van Tongeren seemed to be suffering from bouts of depression.
share[deleted]
[deleted]