Ji-Tu Cumbuka
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2017) |
Ji-Tu Cumbuka | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 4, 1940 Helena, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 2017 (aged 77) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–2004 |
| Children | 1 |
Ji-Tu Cumbuka (March 4, 1940 – July 4, 2017) was an American actor.[1][2]
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
Born in 1940 in Helena, Alabama,[5] to a Baptist minister.
After 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
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[8], Sanford and Son, Hunter, and In the Heat of the Night. He was a regular cast member of the short-lived spy series A Man Called Sloane.[9]
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.[9] 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).
Death
Cumbuka died at the age of 77 on July 4, 2017, after a six-month battle with cancer.[2][10]
Filmography
| 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 | The Jericho Mile | 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 | |
| 1990 | Caged in Paradiso | Josh | |
| 1993 | Midnight Edition | Reginald Brown |
References
- ^ "Ji-Tu Cumbuka". TV Guide.
- ^ a b Barnes, Mike (July 9, 2017). "Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Actor in 'Roots' and 'Harlem Nights,' Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Cumbuka, Ji-Tu (2011). A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood. Google Books.
- ^ "A Giant to Remember". Agianttoremeber.com.
- ^ "Ji-Tu Cumbuka: A Giant to Remember". books.google. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Ji-Tu Cumbaka bio, VH1.com; accessed April 8, 2015.
- ^ "Ji-Tu Cumbuka". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
- ^ "Ji-Tu Cumbuka". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
- ^ a b Ji-Tu Cumbuka at IMDb
- ^ Croom, Tene` (July 5, 2017). "We Remember Ji-Tu Cumbuka: Veteran Actor Who Starred In 'Roots' Dies At 77". Eurweb.com.
External links
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