Former Isidingo actor Darlington Michaels, popularly known as Papa G, has been admitted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. An insider who spotted the actor at the hospital said he was admitted this week struggling to breathe.

 USING A WALKING STICK

A patient who was at the hospital when the actor was brought in by an ambulance said the medical staff on duty had to assist him with oxygen since he was struggling to breathe. "Everyone in the emergency reception recognised him. He has really aged. It was sad to watch," added the source. It is not known if In a recent picture, he has been seen using a walking stick.

STRUGGLING TO GET GIGS

An actor who used to work with Papa G in theatre and didn't want to be named said he reached out to him a few weeks ago asking for assistance because he was not feeling well. According to the source, the veteran actor complained about not getting gigs and how the industry had rejected him, making it difficult for him to make a living. "It's hard being an actor in this country, if anything happens to him, the government will only issue condolences instead of celebrating this man while he is still alive," added the actor.

Michaels joined Isidingo in 1998, when the soap opera first started. In the SABC 3 soapie, he portrayed the flashy mobster Georgie Zamdela, also known as Papa G. Michaels started his acting career on stage under the tutelage of the father of theatre, Gibson Kente. Efforts to reach Papa G or his family proved fruitless as their phones went to voicemail.