South African television and theatre personality Ian von Memerty has died at the age of 61, after publicly sharing that he intended to end his life “on his own terms” in his Facebook series Dying For A Better Life.
His family announced his death in a statement posted to his official Facebook page on Sunday.
“We are sad to announce that our beloved Ian von Memerty passed away at the age of 61 in Johannesburg in the early hours of 23 February 2026,” the statement read.
“As a family, we have done everything we can to love and respect him on his journey. We ask for privacy and respect as we deal with our own pain, having lost someone we’ve loved very much.”
‘Dying for a Better Life’
In February, von Memerty revealed in his web series Dying For A Better Life that he had chosen to end his life, setting a private date and framing the decision as one of autonomy and “self‑deliverance”.
Over several episodes, he spoke candidly about:
- Fears of ageing and losing his ability to work
- Becoming financially dependent on his family
- Facing a version of old age he did not want
He described telling his children about his decision as “one of the worst days” of his life.
“I am causing pain with this decision,” he acknowledged in one video.
Despite criticism, he told The Herald that his choice was not driven by depression, and that by documenting his journey he hoped to raise awareness and broaden the conversation around end‑of‑life choice.
In an interview with YOU magazine, he said the debate around the right to choose one’s death had “become so blinkered”.
“I have no desire to remove faith from anyone’s life. It is a wonderful gift in people’s lives. It gives them security and safety. This [series is] for people like me who would like a sense of ownership in their old age when it comes to their dying,” he said.
Fourteen chapters of the series were posted on Facebook, followed by a reaction video shared posthumously on 24 February. In it, he said that while he had faced criticism, he had also been deeply affirmed.
“I have felt so affirmed and confirmed in my choice to speak up, because there are a lot of people like us, who feel like us and think like us about the right to choose.”
A multifaceted career
Von Memerty was a theatre director, performer, writer, producer and TV presenter.
He was best known to television audiences as:
- Host of Strictly Come Dancing (South Africa)
- Judge on the first four seasons of SA’s Got Talent
Later in his career, he worked as an entertainer on cruise ships. After retiring from show business, he spent time in Europe working as a pet sitter.
Survivors
Ian von Memerty is survived by his wife, Vivian, and their children, Oscar and Kasvia.
Follow Us on Twitter
