SA’s Cliff Simon on a ghost hunt
Cliff Simon has swapped soaps for Uncharted Mysteries as he seeks out answers to paranormal problems across the US.
It takes a brave man to face the world of the paranormal and unexplained head-on. And Cliff Simon is that guy! The SA-born actor is the host of sci-fi doccie series Uncharted Mysteries – Thursdays on History Channel (*186) at 20:15. “It’s the right time to do this type of show,” says the 57-year- old, who was Mr SA in 1992 and he has lived in Los Angeles since 2000. “I have always wanted to do a survivalist show and be out in the wild exploring, and Uncharted Mysteries is that show!”
The six- episode doccie is taking Cliff across the US, from New Jersey in the east, to Louisiana in the south, to the Mojave Desert in the west… and across the ocean to tropical Hawaii. “I’m having a blast,” says the host, adding that it’s the trip of a lifetime. “They call and say, ‘You’re going here,’ so I go.
I’ve had so much fun exploring and also finding answers to these mysteries.”
How was the show put together?
About five years ago, Robin and Laura Keats produced a show Pitbulls & Parolees (2009-now). I was working with rescue pitbulls and Laura approached me to host a dog-rescue kind of show but it didn’t happen. Robin approached me to a show called Altered States, which was this show’s original title. I’ve got a military background and I want to be outdoors. I loved the idea and Robin has worked on it for four years, that’s how long it takes.
Which story moved you the most?
Hawaii and not just because it was episode 1 (on 4 June). Meeting guys like Keli’iokalani Makua, the tattoo priest, they are just amazing people and spiritual – you feel this close connection to them. I’ve leant about the history of Hawaii, I’m an American citizen and have been since 2000. I feel it was unfair what happened to these people, the social injustice and segregation. Me and Keli’i spoke for hours, he wanted to know about the person I was to come up with my tattoo. It wasn’t up to me what he put on my body. That was up to him.
How involved are you behind the scenes?
It’s a very small team – six of us actually in the field. Cameramen, director, sound guy and me. It’s a collaborative thing between myself and Michael Sheehan, who’s the director. He of course lets me do what I feel comfortable with, but he is still directing. I do have a say because I don’t want to have my life on the line. There are certain times when I say, “Listen, that’s too hectic for me. I love the show. I love taking risks. But I’m not going to die for the show.” It’s definitely not like being on a theatrical production where you’re in a studio where you’ve got people telling you what you should and shouldn’t do, which is pretty rigid. We’re very loose. If I run up a hill, my cameramen run up a hill with me.
What is your favourite type of show?
Anything that involves forensics. I love the aspect of forensics where things are solved. We’re looking for footprints, hair samples, that sort of thing. I’m an investigator, my show is an adventure investigating paranormal activity and speaking to witnesses who’ve see these things. I also love anything like reality show Expedition Unknown (2015-now) that has a legitimate professional taking control. Josh Gates, host of Expedition Unknown, is an actual archaeologist, so he is showing you accurate content that’s you can trust is real.
And you’ve still got your SA accent…
When you’re an adult, you don’t lose your accent. Obviously I’ve had to work on a US accent, when you’re playing a certain role in a certain show you have to play a Russian or an Israeli and you put an accent on. But what’s really cool is that the shows love the South African accent and it really works for so many characters. I always play the bad guys but I’ve stayed true to who I am as a professional. Egoli (1992-2010) creator Franz Marx (Cliff played Mitch from 1992 to 1997) said, “Use your accent.
It’ll work. You’re against 100 000 others who don’t have your voice.”