waldy was born in blitar, in java, on 15 december 1919 and was one of fourteen children born to j. r. hunter (also known as osman) and l. w. winterberg who were of english and german descent, respectively. both were stage actors with the sri permata opera, and often traveled. interested in theatre, he ran away from his elementary school in yogyakarta to join a troupe in klaten, under the leadership of djafar wirjo.