Maarten Spanjer Dies at 73 After Cancer Battle in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Dutch actor, television maker, and writer Maarten Spanjer has passed away at the age of 73 in a hospice in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, De Standaard reported. Spanjer had been ill for a year, battling bladder and prostate cancer, and his health declined rapidly over his final two weeks due to new metastases, according to statements given to De Telegraaf by his partner, Monique Waterham, who was present at his death.
Breakthrough Roles in Paul Verhoeven’s Spetters and the Hidden-Camera Hit Taxi
Born in Amsterdam on October 24, 1952, Spanjer first established himself in television during the late 1970s and early 1980s by performing comedy sketches in the program Voetbal ’80, portraying characters such as Drs. Vijfje, NOS reported. He achieved major cinematic recognition in 1980 by starring as a young motorcycle crosser in director Paul Verhoeven’s feature film Spetters. In the 1990s, Spanjer gained widespread public fame as the host of the television program Taxi. Posing as a cab driver with a hidden camera recording uninitiated passengers, he captured spontaneous conversations that earned the production a prestigious Golden Rose award at Montreux in 1995.
Subsequent Television Work and Writing Career in De Telegraaf
Beyond his early cinematic and hidden-camera work, Spanjer portrayed detective Martin Boks in the police series Boks, appeared in the television series Laat maar zitten, and played Gerben Zonderland in film adaptations of the Kameleon children’s books during the 2000s, as noted by NOS. His high public recognition also led to commercial roles, including advertisements for KPN alongside Rijk de Gooyer and portraying the character Beun de Haas for Bovag. Alongside performing, he authored more than ten books and contributed columns to De Telegraaf, maintaining a writing presence until the final weeks of his life.
Openness About Illness and Final Columns on Treatment
Spanjer publicly disclosed his bladder and prostate cancer diagnosis in De Telegraaf in late August, after keeping the illness private for months. Despite undergoing major surgery that involved the removal of his bladder and prostrate, he maintained an optimistic public outlook through the summer. He shared observations from the waiting rooms of the VUmc hospital in his columns, blending medical realities with humor, such as describing a commercial pitch from a company offering carefree trousers for ostomy patients. While he expressed feeling good and rejoining public life during the summer months, sudden and extensive new metastases altered his prognosis rapidly near the end.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maarten Spanjer’s Life and Career
Where was Maarten Spanjer born and when?
Maarten Spanjer was born in Amsterdam on October 24, 1952, according to reporting from NOS.
What recognition did his television program Taxi receive?
Spanjer won a Golden Rose at the television festival in Montreux in 1995 for Taxi, where he drove a cab while recording passenger conversations with a hidden camera, as detailed by NOS.
Which newspaper published his final columns about his illness?
Spanjer wrote columns about his bladder and prostate cancer diagnoses and subsequent medical treatments for the Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf.
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