N!xau, a San from the Kalahari Desert, was discovered by director Jamie Uys and cast in the lead role in the 1980 movie The Gods Must Be Crazy. He received only a few hundred dollars for his work in that film, but was astute enough to negotiate for over half a million for his appearance in the sequel, The Gods Must Be Crazy II. He reportedly suffered from tuberculosis during his life, and in early July 2003, Namibian officials based in the remote area of the Kalahari where N!xau lived, confirmed his death, though the exact cause of death was unknown. His age when he died was estimated to be 59, as not even N!xau himself was sure of his birthdate.


The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989): 600,000 South African Rand (approx. $80,000 US)
The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980): $300

Demanded to be paid paid 800,000 South African rand in advance before repeating his role in The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989). He insisted the money was needed for a cinder-block house with electricity and a water pump for him, his three wives, and their children. At first not knowing the value of paper money, N!xau let his first wages, $300, blow away. However, by the time of The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989) he had learned the value of money, demanding several hundred thousand dollars before agreeing to be recast in the film. Member of the San, who are one of the indigenous groups of people of South Africa and Namibia. Appeared in five of six of "The Gods Must Be Crazy" films. He was said to do another film in Japan, but there is no evidence that this film was ever made.