René van Vooren was the Thespian pseudonym of René Sleeswijk Jr., born
in the Dutch metropolis Amsterdam on 21 April 1931 as son of theater
producer René Sleeswijk Sr., a stage name assumed to avoid utter
confusion. In the 1950s he worked with several Dutch artists, including
Tom Manders.
In 1966 he joined the duo which made his name, De Mounties, after the
death of the previous straight man, Fred Plevier. Although they weren't
friends, Piet Bambergen (loud, short and fat) and René Van Vooren privé
(tall and distinguished, resulting in an inverted Laurel and Hardy-
look) proved a magical comical duo on stage. His theatre successes, all
co-starring with Piet Bambergen, included: Drie in de pan (also
starring Joke Bruys), Goeie Buren (Rudi Falkenhagen, John Leddy and
Diana Dobbelman), Huwelijk in de steigers (Rudi Falkenhagen, Carry
Tefsen), Lief zijn voor elkaar and Privé voor twee (Rudi Falkenhagen
and Marlies Alcmaer).
After Bambergen's death in 1996, René Van Vooren joined Joop van den
Ende Producties (Dutch commercial TV), but now as creative producer.
His productions included the André van Duin-shows.
Cancer killed René at Blaricum on 25 November 1998.