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{{short description|American actor}}
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{{Refimprove|date=July 2017}}

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{{More citations needed|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Ji-Tu Cumbuka
| name = Ji-Tu Cumbuka
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'''Ji-Tu Cumbuka''' <!-- Does anyone know his birth name?? from talkpage -->(March 4, 1940 – July 4, 2017) was an American actor.<ref name=TG>{{cite web|work=[[TV Guide]] | title=Ji-Tu Cumbuka|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ji-tu-cumbuka/credits/156960/}}</ref><ref name=THR />
'''Ji-Tu Cumbuka''' <!-- Does anyone know his birth name?? from talkpage -->(March 4, 1940 – July 4, 2017) was an American actor.<ref name=TG>{{cite web|work=[[TV Guide]] | title=Ji-Tu Cumbuka|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ji-tu-cumbuka/credits/156960/}}</ref><ref name=THR />
He is best remembered as "Torque" in the short-lived TV series ''[[A Man Called Sloane]]'' together with [[Robert Conrad]] and [[Dan O'Herlihy]].


In 2011, Cumbuka published his autobiography ''A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood''.<ref>{{cite book|publisher=[[Google Books]] | title=A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood|date=2011|author=Cumbuka, Ji-Tu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UltVDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://agianttoremember.com/|website=Agianttoremeber.com|title=A Giant to Remember}}</ref> He has a son and a granddaughter.
In 2011, Cumbuka published his autobiography ''A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood''.<ref>{{cite book| title=A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood|date=2011|author=Cumbuka, Ji-Tu|publisher=S.e.l.f. | isbn=9780984279180|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UltVDQAAQBAJ}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://agianttoremember.com/|website=Agianttoremeber.com|title=A Giant to Remember}}</ref> He has a son and a granddaughter.


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Born in 1940 in [[Helena, Alabama]],<ref name=book>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=UltVDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT56&lpg=PT56&dq=ji-tu+cumbuka+1940&source=bl&ots=3asile_AlL&sig=BxD8hXZ_nhgD00LPLMhdl3Ck5TE&hl=fr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJ7NONuvLUAhVI2IMKHT58AwIQ6AEIYzAM#v=onepage&q=ji-tu%20cumbuka%201940&f=false |title=Ji-Tu Cumbuka: A Giant to Remember |accessdate=5 July 2017 |publisher=books.google}}</ref> to a Baptist minister who believed acting was "the devil's work", he left home and moved to New York. After several difficult years, he enlisted in the Army, where he played football and ran track. He made All-Army in both sports. He was offered many college scholarships, but chose to attend [[Texas Southern University]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}
Cumbuka was born in 1940 in [[Helena, Alabama]],<ref name=book>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UltVDQAAQBAJ&q=ji-tu+cumbuka+1940&pg=PT56 |title=Ji-Tu Cumbuka: A Giant to Remember |isbn=9780984279180 |accessdate=5 July 2017 |last1=Cumbuka |first1=Ji-Tu |date=October 2011 |publisher=S.e.l.f. }}</ref> to a Baptist minister. After attending [[Texas Southern University|Texas Southern]], he moved to California to pursue his acting career, and went to [[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia College]] in New York City, earning a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and a master's degree in cinematography. He landed a role in the 1968 movie ''[[Uptight (film)|Uptight]]'' directed by [[Jules Dassin]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050327124814/http://www.vh1.com/movies/person/9273/personmain.jhtml Ji-Tu Cumbaka bio], VH1.com; accessed April 8, 2015.</ref>

After Texas Southern, he moved to California to pursue his acting career, and later continued his education at [[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia College]] in New York City, earning a bachelor of arts in theatre and a master's degree in cinematography. After three years of attending acting classes and acting in community plays and workshops, he landed a role in the 1968 movie ''[[Uptight (film)|Uptight]]'' directed by [[Jules Dassin]].<ref>[http://www.vh1.com/movies/person/9273/personmain.jhtml Ji-Tu Cumbaka bio], VH1.com; accessed April 8, 2015.</ref>


== Acting career ==
== Acting career ==
Cumbuka appeared in such television productions as the [[Roots (1977 miniseries)|''Roots'' miniseries]], ''[[Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)|Daniel Boone]]'', ''[[Young Dan'l Boone]]'', ''[[Knots Landing]]'', ''[[The A-Team]]'', ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'', ''[[Murder She Wrote]]'',''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]'', ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'', ''[[Sanford and Son]]'', ''[[Hunter (1984 American TV series)|Hunter]]'', and ''[[In the Heat of the Night (TV series)|In the Heat of the Night]]''. He was a regular cast member of the short-lived spy series ''[[A Man Called Sloane]]''.<ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name|191783}}</ref>
Cumbuka appeared in such television productions as the [[Roots (1977 miniseries)|''Roots'' miniseries]], ''[[Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)|Daniel Boone]]'', ''[[Young Dan'l Boone]]'', ''[[Knots Landing]]'', ''[[The A-Team]]'', ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'', ''[[Murder She Wrote]]'', ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]'', ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'', ''Amen'',<ref name="Ji-Tu Cumbuka">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0191783/|title=Ji-Tu Cumbuka|website=IMDb|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref> ''227'',<ref name="Ji-Tu Cumbuka"/> ''[[Sanford and Son]]'', ''[[Hunter (1984 American TV series)|Hunter]]'', ''[[In the Heat of the Night (TV series)|In the Heat of the Night]]'', and ''[[Matlock (1986 TV series)|Matlock]]''. He was a main cast member of the hit spy TV series ''[[A Man Called Sloane]]'' with [[Robert Conrad]] and [[Dan O'Herlihy]].<ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name|191783}}</ref>


Cumbuka also appeared in numerous films. He appeared as former NBA guard [[Oscar Robertson]] in the biodrama pic ''[[Maurie]]'' (1973) about the life of [[Maurice Stokes]].<ref name="imdb" /> In ''[[Harlem Nights]]'' (1989), he plays the toothless drunk gambler who gets shot over money. Other films in which he appeared include (but are not limited to) ''[[Change of Habit]]'' with Elvis Presley (1969), ''[[Blacula]]'' (1972), ''[[Trader Horn (1973 film)|Trader Horn]]'' (1973), ''[[Lost in the Stars (film)|Lost in the Stars]]'' (1974), ''[[Mandingo (film)|Mandingo]]'' (1975), ''[[Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde]]'' (1976), ''[[Bound for Glory (1976 film)|Bound for Glory]]'' (1976), ''[[The Jericho Mile]]'' (1979), ''[[Doin' Time (film)|Doin' Time]]'' (1985), ''[[Brewster's Millions (1985 film)|Brewster's Millions]]'' (1985), ''[[Volunteers (1985 film)|Volunteers]]'' (1985), ''[[Out of Bounds (1986 film)|Out of Bounds]]'' (1986), ''[[Moving (1988 film)|Moving]]'' (1988), and ''[[Caged in Paradiso]]'' (1990).
Cumbuka also appeared in numerous films. He appeared as former NBA guard [[Oscar Robertson]] in the biodrama pic ''[[Maurie (film)|Maurie]]'' (1973) about the life of [[Maurice Stokes]].<ref name="imdb" /> In ''[[Harlem Nights]]'' (1989), he plays the toothless drunk gambler who gets shot over money. Other films in which he appeared include (but are not limited to) ''[[Change of Habit]]'' with Elvis Presley (1969), ''[[Blacula]]'' (1972), ''[[Trader Horn (1973 film)|Trader Horn]]'' (1973), ''[[Lost in the Stars (1974 film)|Lost in the Stars]]'' (1974), ''[[Mandingo (film)|Mandingo]]'' (1975), ''[[Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde]]'' (1976), ''[[Bound for Glory (1976 film)|Bound for Glory]]'' (1976), ''[[The Jericho Mile]]'' (1979), ''[[Doin' Time (film)|Doin' Time]]'' (1985), ''[[Brewster's Millions (1985 film)|Brewster's Millions]]'' (1985), ''[[Volunteers (1985 film)|Volunteers]]'' (1985), ''[[Out of Bounds (1986 film)|Out of Bounds]]'' (1986), ''[[Moving (1988 film)|Moving]]'' (1988), and ''[[Caged in Paradiso]]'' (1990).
Cumbuka wrote, produce, and acted in the gospel musical play ''Help Somebody'', co-starring with [[Kene Holliday]], Hall Williams, Ali Woodson, and [[Glynn Turman]]. It debuted in [[Washington, D.C.]] in the late 90s.


== Death ==
== Death ==


Cumbuka died at the age of 77 on July 4, 2017, after a six-month battle with cancer.<ref name=THR>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ji-tu-cumbuka-dead-roots-harlem-nights-actor-was-77-1018990|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | title=Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Actor in 'Roots' and 'Harlem Nights,' Dies at 77|date=July 9, 2017|author=Barnes, Mike}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurweb.com/2017/07/ji-tu-cumbuka-veteran-actor-starred-roots-dies-77/|website=Eurweb.com|title=We Remember Ji-Tu Cumbuka: Veteran Actor Who Starred In ‘Roots’ Dies At 77|author=Croom, Tene`|date=July 5, 2017}}</ref>
Cumbuka died at the age of 77 on July 4, 2017, after a six-month battle with cancer.<ref name=THR>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ji-tu-cumbuka-dead-roots-harlem-nights-actor-was-77-1018990|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | title=Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Actor in 'Roots' and 'Harlem Nights,' Dies at 77|date=July 9, 2017|author=Barnes, Mike}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurweb.com/2017/07/ji-tu-cumbuka-veteran-actor-starred-roots-dies-77/|website=Eurweb.com|title=We Remember Ji-Tu Cumbuka: Veteran Actor Who Starred In 'Roots' Dies At 77|author=Croom, Tene`|date=July 5, 2017}}</ref>


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
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|1973|| ''[[Maurie (film)|Maurie]]'' || Oscar ||
|1973|| ''[[Maurie (film)|Maurie]]'' || Oscar ||
|-
|-
|1974|| ''[[Lost in the Stars (film)|Lost in the Stars]]'' || Johannes ||
|1974|| ''[[Lost in the Stars (1974 film)|Lost in the Stars]]'' || Johannes ||
|-
|-
|1975|| ''[[Mandingo (film)|Mandingo]]'' || Cicero ||
|1975|| ''[[Mandingo (film)|Mandingo]]'' || Cicero ||
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|1977|| ''Angela'' || ||
|1977|| ''Angela'' || ||
|-
|-
|1979|| ''[[The Jericho Mile]]'' || Sgt. Gannett ||
|1979|| ''[[Walk Proud]]'' || Sgt. Gannett ||
|-
|-
|1984|| ''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]'' || Alley Pimp ||
|1984|| ''[[Bachelor Party (1984 film)|Bachelor Party]]'' || Alley Pimp ||
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|-
|-
|1989|| ''[[Harlem Nights]]'' || Toothless Gambler ||
|1989|| ''[[Harlem Nights]]'' || Toothless Gambler ||
|-
|1989
|Murder She Wrote
|Calder Williams
|
|-
|-
|1990|| ''[[Caged in Paradiso]]'' || Josh ||
|1990|| ''[[Caged in Paradiso]]'' || Josh ||
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|0191783}}
* {{IMDb name|0191783}}
* [http://agianttoremember.com/ A Giant To Remember.com]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
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[[Category:African-American male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Montgomery, Alabama]]
[[Category:Male actors from Montgomery, Alabama]]
[[Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni]]
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[[Category:Writers from Alabama]]
[[Category:Writers from Alabama]]
[[Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni]]
[[Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni]]
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[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]

Latest revision as of 20:46, 4 December 2024

Ji-Tu Cumbuka
Born(1940-03-04)March 4, 1940
Helena, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJuly 4, 2017(2017-07-04) (aged 77)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1968–2004
Children1

Ji-Tu Cumbuka (March 4, 1940 – July 4, 2017) was an American actor.[1][2] He is best remembered as "Torque" in the short-lived TV series A Man Called Sloane together with Robert Conrad and Dan O'Herlihy.

In 2011, Cumbuka published his autobiography A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood.[3][4] He has a son and a granddaughter.

Early life

[edit]

Cumbuka was born in 1940 in Helena, Alabama,[5] to a Baptist minister. After attending Texas Southern, he moved to California to pursue his acting career, and went to Columbia College in New York City, earning a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and a master's degree in cinematography. He landed a role in the 1968 movie Uptight directed by Jules Dassin.[6]

Acting career

[edit]

Cumbuka appeared in such television productions as the Roots miniseries, Daniel Boone, Young Dan'l Boone, Knots Landing, The A-Team, The Dukes of Hazzard, Murder She Wrote, Walker, Texas Ranger, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Amen,[7] 227,[7] Sanford and Son, Hunter, In the Heat of the Night, and Matlock. He was a main cast member of the hit spy TV series A Man Called Sloane with Robert Conrad and Dan O'Herlihy.[8]

Cumbuka also appeared in numerous films. He appeared as former NBA guard Oscar Robertson in the biodrama pic Maurie (1973) about the life of Maurice Stokes.[8] In Harlem Nights (1989), he plays the toothless drunk gambler who gets shot over money. Other films in which he appeared include (but are not limited to) Change of Habit with Elvis Presley (1969), Blacula (1972), Trader Horn (1973), Lost in the Stars (1974), Mandingo (1975), Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976), Bound for Glory (1976), The Jericho Mile (1979), Doin' Time (1985), Brewster's Millions (1985), Volunteers (1985), Out of Bounds (1986), Moving (1988), and Caged in Paradiso (1990). Cumbuka wrote, produce, and acted in the gospel musical play Help Somebody, co-starring with Kene Holliday, Hall Williams, Ali Woodson, and Glynn Turman. It debuted in Washington, D.C. in the late 90s.

Death

[edit]

Cumbuka died at the age of 77 on July 4, 2017, after a six-month battle with cancer.[2][9]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1968 Uptight Rick
1969 Change of Habit Hawk
1972 Top of the Heap Pot Peddler
1972 Blacula Skillet
1972 Up the Sandbox Black Captain
1973 Trader Horn Orange Stripe
1973 Maurie Oscar
1974 Lost in the Stars Johannes
1975 Mandingo Cicero
1976 Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde Lt. Jackson
1976 Bound for Glory Slim Snedeger - Hobo on Train
1977 Fun with Dick and Jane Guard
1977 Angela
1979 Walk Proud Sgt. Gannett
1984 Bachelor Party Alley Pimp
1985 Doin' Time Bernie Feldstein
1985 Brewster's Millions Melvin
1985 Volunteers Cicero
1986 Out of Bounds Lemar
1987 Outrageous Fortune Cab Driver
1988 Moving Edwards
1988 Glitch! Mookie
1989 Harlem Nights Toothless Gambler
1989 Murder She Wrote Calder Williams
1990 Caged in Paradiso Josh
1993 Midnight Edition Reginald Brown

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ji-Tu Cumbuka". TV Guide.
  2. ^ a b Barnes, Mike (July 9, 2017). "Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Actor in 'Roots' and 'Harlem Nights,' Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^ Cumbuka, Ji-Tu (2011). A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood. S.e.l.f. ISBN 9780984279180.
  4. ^ "A Giant to Remember". Agianttoremeber.com.
  5. ^ Cumbuka, Ji-Tu (October 2011). Ji-Tu Cumbuka: A Giant to Remember. S.e.l.f. ISBN 9780984279180. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. ^ Ji-Tu Cumbaka bio, VH1.com; accessed April 8, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Ji-Tu Cumbuka". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
  8. ^ a b Ji-Tu Cumbuka at IMDb
  9. ^ Croom, Tene` (July 5, 2017). "We Remember Ji-Tu Cumbuka: Veteran Actor Who Starred In 'Roots' Dies At 77". Eurweb.com.
[edit]
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