Ji-Tu Cumbuka facts for kids

Ji-Tu Cumbuka (born March 4, 1940 – died July 4, 2017) was an American actor. He was well-known for playing "Torque" in the TV show A Man Called Sloane. He acted alongside Robert Conrad and Dan O'Herlihy in that series.

In 2011, Cumbuka wrote a book about his life called A Giant to Remember: The Black Actor in Hollywood. He had a son and a granddaughter.

Ji-Tu Cumbuka's Early Life

Ji-Tu Cumbuka was born in 1940 in Helena, Alabama. His father was a Baptist minister.

After college in Texas, he moved to California. He wanted to become an actor. He also studied at Columbia College in New York City. There, he earned degrees in theater and filmmaking. His first movie role was in 1968. It was in the film Uptight, directed by Jules Dassin.

Acting on TV and in Movies

Ji-Tu Cumbuka appeared in many popular TV shows. These include the miniseries Roots and The A-Team. He was also in The Dukes of Hazzard and Murder, She Wrote. Other shows he appeared in were Walker, Texas Ranger and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

He was a main actor in the spy TV series A Man Called Sloane. In this show, he worked with Robert Conrad and Dan O'Herlihy.

Cumbuka also acted in many films. He played former NBA player Oscar Robertson in the movie Maurie (1973). This film was about the life of Maurice Stokes.

Some other movies he was in include Change of Habit (1969) with Elvis Presley. He also appeared in Blacula (1972) and Trader Horn (1973). Later films included Brewster's Millions (1985) and Harlem Nights (1989).

Cumbuka also wrote, produced, and acted in a gospel musical play. It was called Help Somebody. This play first opened in Washington, D.C. in the late 1990s.

His Passing

Ji-Tu Cumbuka passed away on July 4, 2017. He was 77 years old. He had been battling cancer for six months.

Filmography