Leon Schuster opens up about loneliness and men’s mental health

By: Venecia Valentine

Beloved comedian Leon Schuster has brought joy to South Africans for decades. Yet behind the humour lies a quieter truth. Divorced from his ex-wife Lalie since 1999, Schuster shares a fear many men face: growing old alone.

“To grow old alone is my biggest fear,” he says.

He has endured two failed back surgeries and a dependence on pain medication. Success and wealth never protected him from emotional pain.

A rare look at the real Schuster

In a new kykNET documentary, Schuster opens up about the toll loneliness has taken on him.

“If no one visits me, I sit on my stoep and think about life. Which is not a good thing,” he says.

He explains that Sundays feel the hardest.

“Sundays around 6pm, when it starts getting dark, I get a little depressed. I try to have my children over as much as possible so that I have company. We braai until I need to go to bed. Then I avoid that phase of Sunday because it gets depressing. You look for company. You do not want to be alone.”

He adds: “Some Sundays I sit on my stoep when I am alone and I start thinking about life. That is not good because I need to keep busy. So I take my guitar and try to create a new song. Sundays are a bad time for me.”

The quiet struggle many men face

His words address a broader issue in South Africa. Many men suffer in silence. Depression and anxiety often go untreated or unnoticed. Social pressure tells men to stay strong and never show vulnerability. The result is isolation.

Schuster’s honesty lifts the curtain on this hidden battle. He reminds us that even those who make others laugh can feel alone. Seeking support is not a weakness. It is a strength.

A call to speak up

“Entrepreneurs, actors, anyone working hard, do not wait until the pain gets too loud to listen,” he says.

His message serves as a reminder. Talk. Reach out. Ask for help. Caring for your mental health matters. No one needs to carry the weight alone.