Edwin Richard Eckstein (Eddie) was born in Johannesburg on 29 November 1939. He completed his (junior and high) schooling at Marist Brothers in Observatory. He joined a banking group as a clerk for five years while moonlighting as a singer in his spare time. He cut his show-business teeth as a Rock 'n Roll singer with the Al Willox Quartet. He appeared on Rhodesian television regularly in die early sixties with Flippie van Vuuren's band and later joined the Jimmie Rayson Combo. After the demise of The Bats, Eddie followed a solo career as an actor and comedian. He took the part of Mannie Bloom in John Cundill's television series Oh George. He then spent one year in Sydney, Australia, where he appeared in I love my Wife. Since returning to South Africa in 1983, his theatre appearances have included starring roles in Little Shop of Horrors, Pyjama Tops, Not Now Darling, Grin and Bear It and What about Love. He also did a Christmas season at the Wild Coast Sun in a show called Cyclone Eddie in December 1989 [http://www.comedycentralafrica.com]