Why Heino’s quit Hillside for good!
Heino Schmitt says farewell to the Laan after more than a decade of playing the super-popular Altus de Bruyn.
Laan lovers were stunned on Friday 27 November: Heino Schmitt, who’s played Altus for 11 years, has quit. His last day on set was at the end of November, but we’ll still see him until 18 February 2016. What does this mean for Altus’s marriage to Paula (Diaan Lawrenson), especially since the couple only just reconciled and remarried in September?
HIS COLLEAGUES REMEMBER
There’s no one at 7de Laan who knows Heino better than his co-star Diaan. “I’ve known a little longer than viewers about Heino’s decision to leave, so I’ve had some time to process it,” she says. Diaan remembers just how much the couple have been through. “Paula and Altus have come through so much heartache and now their paths must split again,” Diaan says, adding that she’s supporting her friend in his deci- sion to spread his wings. “I’m going to miss him terribly. We’ve become such good friends and I know the romantic relationship between our two characters has crept into viewers’ hearts and that they’re going to have to process his absence.”
Hennie Jacobs, who plays Diederik, has also been in a lot of scenes with Heino as an employee at Bruynwaves, Altus’s event planning company. “Heino and I have made our way together on the 7de Laan set over the past nine years. We became best friends and we’ll still be hanging out a lot off set,” Hennie says. He’s full of praise for his pal too. “Heino’s never pretended to be anyone but who he really is. He’s humble and cares about people. I couldn’t have asked for a better friendship.”
Christo Davids, who portrays nosy journalist Errol, also speaks with great fondness and respect for Heino. “He absorbs information like a sponge and we’ve had many conversations behind the scenes about history and travelling. Everyone needs a change of scenery now and then and I’m happy for Heino if that’s what he wants in life. I remember Heino was my very first real friend on set when I became part of 7de Laan in 2007 and not to see him every day anymore is tough,” Christo says.
ADÍOS ALTUS!
While we’re sworn to secrecy (for now!), we can tell you that Altus’s storyline will become a lot more dramatic and gripping right up until his last scene. Diaan says that viewers will be in tears with what happens. “The writers have really come up with a shocking storyline that will shake viewers to the core. It was already too much for me as an actress when I had to play out those scenes in November. Heino and I just couldn’t stop the tears from falling.” Break out the tissues, don’t miss a single episode, and remember to get future issues of tvplus for all the dramatic revelations as they happen…