Johnny Sekka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnny Sekka
Sekka in Uptown Saturday Night (1974)
Born	Lamine Sekka (1934-07-21)21 July 1934 Dakar, Senegal
Died	14 September 2006(2006-09-14) (aged 72) Agua Dulce, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1959–1993
Spouse(s)	Cecilia Enger ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	1

Johnny Sekka was a talented actor from Senegal. He was born Lamine Sekka on July 21, 1934, and passed away on September 14, 2006. He became well-known for his roles in both British and American films and TV shows.

Johnny Sekka's Early Life

Johnny Sekka was born Lamine Sekka in Dakar, Senegal. He was the youngest of five children. Sadly, his father, who was from The Gambia, died soon after Johnny was born.

When Johnny was still young, his mother sent him to live with an aunt. This was in Georgetown (now Janjanbureh) in The Gambia. But Johnny ran away and lived on the streets. He stayed in the capital city, which was then called Bathurst (now Banjul).

Moving to Europe

During World War II, Johnny found a job. He worked as an interpreter at an American air base in Dakar. After that, he worked on the docks.

When he was 20, he secretly boarded a ship. He traveled to Marseilles, France. He then lived in Paris for three years.

Becoming an Actor

Johnny arrived in London, England, in 1952. He joined the Royal Air Force and served for two years. This is where he first got the nickname "Johnny."

A Caribbean actor named Earl Cameron encouraged him to try acting. Johnny then went to the RADA. This is a famous acting school.

He started working as a stagehand at the Royal Court Theatre. From 1958, he began appearing on stage in different plays.

First Film Roles

Johnny Sekka had a small part in the 1958 film Look Back in Anger. The director, Tony Richardson, had seen him perform on stage.

In 1961, he got a main role in the film Flame in the Streets. He played a Jamaican boyfriend. His character was dating the white daughter of a union worker.

He lived in Paris for a while, where he met his future wife, Cecilia Enger.

British Films and TV

Johnny continued to act in British films during the 1960s. He often played roles like a manservant. Some of his films included Woman of Straw (1964), East of Sudan (1964), Khartoum (1966), and The Last Safari (1967).

He also appeared on television. He was in shows like The Human Jungle, Z-Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Gideon's Way, Danger Man, and The Avengers.

In 1968, Johnny played the main role in a West End play called Night of Fame. This was a big deal. It was the first time a black actor played a role written for a white man in English theater.

Many people saw him as a British version of the famous actor Sidney Poitier. Johnny felt a bit frustrated. Actors who started around the same time as him, like Sean Connery and Michael Caine, became big stars, but he hadn't yet.

Moving to the United States

Johnny Sekka eventually moved to the United States. He hoped to find more interesting roles there.

He had smaller parts in films like A Warm December (1972) and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). Both of these movies were directed by Sidney Poitier. A Warm December also featured Earl Cameron. Uptown Saturday Night included Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor.

These roles led to a more memorable part in the TV show Good Times. He played a character named Ibe. Ibe was Thelma's (BernNadette Stanis) African boyfriend.

In 1976, he starred in the movie Mohammad, Messenger of God. This film was about the start of Islam. Johnny played Bilal al-Habashi, an Ethiopian companion of Muhammad.

He also appeared in the 1982 film Hanky Panky. In 1984, he played Banda in the TV miniseries Master of the Game.

Later TV Roles

Johnny was not cast in the miniseries Roots (1977). They thought he didn't seem American enough. However, he got a role in the sequel, Roots: The Next Generations (1979). He played an African interpreter in that show.

Many science fiction fans know Johnny Sekka. He played Dr. Benjamin Kyle in the pilot movie for the TV series Babylon 5. This movie was called The Gathering (1993).

Sadly, ongoing health problems made him turn down future roles in Babylon 5. These health issues also led him to stop acting completely.

Johnny Sekka's Death

Johnny Sekka passed away on September 14, 2006. He was 72 years old. He died from lung cancer at his ranch in Agua Dulce, California. He was survived by his wife, Cecilia, and his son, Lamine. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.

Filmography