The actor in “The Gods Must Be Crazy” received only $300 for his lead role in the film that grossed $90 million.
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N!xau Toma, the actor in “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” received only $300 for his work in the film that impressively grossed $90 million.
The 1980 comedy follows the story of a South African tribe that discovers a glass bottle of Coca-Cola that fell from a plane. They believe that the strange object is a gift from their gods, as it came from the sky.
Toma plays the tribe leader who tries to return the bottle in an attempt to restore peace, as after the mysterious object fell, everyone wants to get their hands on it, leading to a series of conflicts and crazy situations.
Even though he was the protagonist, the actor, born in Namibia, received a very small amount for all his work.
According to Jamie Uys, the film’s director, he gave Toma $300 for his first 10 days of work, but since Toma didn’t understand the value of the currency, he reportedly let the bills fly away.
According to reports, the actor ended up receiving 12 heads of cattle and, after filming wrapped up, Toma received $100 a month. Additionally, $20,000 was added to a trust account that was created in his name.
“The Gods Must Be Crazy” did not perform well in the U.S. when it premiered, until 20th Century Fox re-released it in 1984, and then it became the highest-grossing foreign film in the country at the time. Over the years, the production grossed an incredible $90 million.
Toma also starred in the films “Crazy Safari,” “Crazy Hong Kong,” and “The Gods Must Be Funny in China,” before finally returning to Namibia, where he farmed corn, pumpkins, and beans. The actor was found dead near his home in June 2003; he was nearly 60 years old.
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