Bio
Matt Stern was a South African singer, songwriter, actor and entertainer best known to television audiences for his role as villain Kurt Conradie on the SABC2 soapie 7de Laan, from 2002-2004.
He was involved in music from an early age, when he started piano lessons. He graduated to violin and later the guitar, after witnessing an Elvis performance on television. He went on to build up a vast repertoire of mostly Elvis songs without any formal training on the guitar.
Matt participated in numerous competitions in High School and also tried his hand at acting. A couple of years after leaving school, he auditioned to be enrolled in the Musical Theatre course at Pretoria Technicon.
He started working as a freelance singer and actor after receiving his National Diploma in Musical Theatre. The middle of 1999 saw Matt leave the Theatre to pursue a solo career as a singer.
In 2000, Matt was invited to represent South Africa in the World Championships for the Performing Arts in Hollywood California. He won five gold medals and one silver medal, and became the world champion in the category "Male Singer Age 25-29".
He made his television debut in 1996, playing the role of a photographer on The Burning Issue. After that he built a large volume of acting work in television, including roles in the following series:
1996
The Burning Issue (Photographer)
1998
TV Town Z (Patrick Pumpkin Head)
Justice for All (Sheriff)
Egoli (Barry)
The Avanti Awards (Phantom, Rocky Horror cast live entertainment)
2000
7de Laan (Client)
2002
Gaz'lam (Sunglasses)
7de Laan (Kurt Conradie)
Behind the Badge (Clerk)
Muvhango (Sheriff)
2003
7de Laan (Kurt Conradie)
Muvhango (Patric)
The Res (Detective Le Roux)
Isidingo (Solly)
2004
7de Laan (Kurt Conradie)
Plek van die Vleisvreters (Ivan)
Song vir Katryn 2 (John)
Isidingo (Max)
Jozi Streets (Roderick)
Hart van Staal (Andre Slabbert)
2005
Hart van Staal (Andre Slabbert)
Scandal! (Gavin)
Dryfsand (Steyn)
Uncle Max (Mr. Von Trip)
Generations (Craig Mitchell)
2006
Generations (Craig Mitchell)
Begeertes (Frederik du Preez)
Amalia 2 (Cop)
2007
Binnelanders (Inspector Labuschagne)
Matt also has an extensive film resumé, with performances in 25 Degrees South (1998), Malunde (2000), Land of a Thousand Hills (2000), Southwest (2001), Stander (2002), Hoof of Africa (2002), Racing Stripes (2003), Hond se Dinges (2008) and District 9 (2008), among others.
Matt made his theatre debut in the 1992 revue Good Vibrations. He performed in dozens of productions, including Les Miserables (1994), Into the Woods (1995), Grease (1996), Cabaret (1996), Oliver (1996), The Rocky Horror Show (1997), Fiddler on the Roof (1998), Hound Dog (2004-2008) and Hooked on Classics (2008).
He released his first solo album in April 2003, called Wildsbok, with two original songs: "Wildsbok" and "Vrystaatse Vlaktes".
He continued to perform all over South Africa when he wasn't busy with TV and film acting.
He married his wife Annie on 27 October, 2007.
After suffering a heart condition his whole life, Matt died on 26 November, 2025. He was 54.