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

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

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, and In the Heat of the Night.

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

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

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1968UptightRick
1969Change of HabitHawk
1972Top of the HeapPot Peddler
1972BlaculaSkillet
1972Up the SandboxBlack Captain
1973Trader HornOrange Stripe
1973MaurieOscar
1974Lost in the StarsJohannes
1975MandingoCicero
1976Dr. Black, Mr. HydeLt. Jackson
1976Bound for GlorySlim Snedeger - Hobo on Train
1977Fun with Dick and JaneGuard
1977Angela
1979Walk ProudSgt. Gannett
1984Bachelor PartyAlley Pimp
1985Doin' TimeBernie Feldstein
1985Brewster's MillionsMelvin
1985VolunteersCicero
1986Out of BoundsLemar
1987Outrageous FortuneCab Driver
1988MovingEdwards
1988Glitch!Mookie
1989Harlem NightsToothless Gambler
1990Caged in ParadisoJosh
1993Midnight EditionReginald Brown

References

  1. ↑ "Ji-Tu Cumbuka". TV Guide.
  2. 1 2 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. ISBN 9780984279180.
  4. ↑ "A Giant to Remember". Agianttoremeber.com.
  5. ↑ Cumbuka, Ji-Tu (October 2011). Ji-Tu Cumbuka: A Giant to Remember. ISBN 9780984279180. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. ↑ Ji-Tu Cumbaka bio, VH1.com; accessed April 8, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Ji-Tu Cumbuka". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
  8. 1 2 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.
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