Coenraad (Coen) Flink (April 24, 1932, Amsterdam, Netherlands - June 29, 2000, Blaricum, Netherlands) was a Dutch actor who achieved in the fifties and sixties successes with major roles in the theatre and in later years, mainly seen in sitcoms on Dutch television.
He was born as the son of the actors Richard Flink and Mieke Verstraete. Flink attended the Amsterdam Theater School, where he graduated in 1953. In 1959 he married Ellen van Hemert, the daughter of Willy van Hemert. In the last years of his life he was mainly known as Grandpa Buys, in the series Oppassen!!! He also did a lot of voice-over work for Disney films, such as Baloo in The Jungle Book, Little John in Robin Hood, Grumpy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mufasa in The Lion King and Zeus in Hercules.
In addition to his film work, Flink also did a lot of theater work. He worked at the Haagse Comedie and the Nieuw Rotterdams Toneel. Between 1953 and 1966, the year he renounced the stage, Flink was a well-known personality on stage. He had roles in The Merchant of Venice, Caesar and Cleopatra. After 1966 he and his wife Ellen (an actress who had switched to painting) began a life away from the spotlight. He briefly returned to the stage in 1976, together with his cousin Jules Croiset. They played in the free production Big Mouth and Big Belly. After 1976 he did not return to the stage. He took a huge step back financially. He even lived on welfare for a while, but preferred poverty to success. At that time, Flink traveled through Europe with his wife and three children Margje, Jesse and Jeroen in two caravans. After years of traveling around, they settled permanently in 't Gooi. Flink then earned his money by recording radio and television commercials and playing roles on television. After his role as neighbor Buys in Zeg 'ns Aaa, he got a role in Oppassen!!!
Coen Flink died on June 29, 2000 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 68. To the outside world, his death came completely unexpected. He was privately cremated on the day the news of his death was announced.
| Year | Image | Character | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 
|
Zeus | Hercules |
| 1994 | 
|
Mufasa | De Leeuwenkoning |
| 1994 | 
|
Grumpie | Sneeuwwitje en de Zeven Dwergen |
| 1988-1993 | 
|
Nanny | Graaf Duckula |
| 1986-1991 | 
|
Gruffi Gummi | Gummi Beren |
| 1989 | 
|
Fagin | Oliver & Co. |
| 1986-1987 | 
|
Dwark | De Wuzzles |
| 1986-1987 | 
|
Commissarend | De Wuzzles |
| 1985-1987 | 
|
Dr. Galjoen Zeewaardig | Snorkels |
| 1985-1987 | 
|
Gouverneur Nathals | Snorkels |
| 1985 | 
|
De Gehoornde Koning | Taran en de Toverketel |
| 1984 |
|
Grumpie | Sneeuwwitje en de Zeven Dwergen |
| 1984 | 
|
Jager | Sneeuwwitje en de Zeven Dwergen |
| 1983 | 
|
Kleine Jan | Robin Hood |
| 1976 | 
|
Sir Ector | Merlijn de Tovenaar |
| 1967 | 
|
Baloe | Jungle Boek |
| 1959 | 
|
Prins Philip | Doornroosje |