Ken Gampu (born 28 August 1929 in Germiston, South Africa; died 4 November 2003 in Vosloorus, South Africa) was a South African actor.Before he began his career, Gampu was a physical training instructor, salesman, interpreter and police officer. His first acting job was in Athol Fugard's play, No Good Friday (1958). His big break came in the 1965 film Dingaka by Jamie Uys. The same year, he had a significant role in Cornel Wilde's African adventure film, The Naked Prey.
"For the first time the black man was on an equal footing with the white man, and you know - the heavens didn't fall" - on his role in a 1975 production of 'Of Mice and Men'.
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I would walk through Joubert Park in Johannesburg and dream about sitting on one of those benches marked Europeans Only.
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Fact
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Suffered indignities as a black actor in South Africa despite his success in Hollywood. In 1975, he was cast as Lennie in a South African stage production of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," but was allowed to play the role only after the government gave him permission to share a stage with white actors.
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Was involved in many theatre musicals by Bertha Egnos, including "Dingaka" and "Ipi Tombi," the most successful musical ever staged in South Africa. He was also featured in the jazz opera "King Kong."
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His first film was the 1960 South-African-made "Tremor" which dealt with the Coalbrook mining disaster.
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Became a member of the Screen Actors Guild in 1970.
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Married with two sons: Ken Jr. and Gatsha.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Askari
2001
Ndhlovu
Malunde
2001
Baba Gusha
Transit Cafe
2001
TV Movie
Grandfather
A Reasonable Man
1999
Headman
Pride of Africa
1997
TV Movie
Mampuru
Black Velvet Band
1997
TV Movie
Witch doctor
Fools
1997
Elder 1
La ferme du crocodile
1996
TV Movie
Le griot
Rhodes
1996
TV Mini-Series
Mshete
Le complot d'Aristote
1996
Policeman
Cycle Simenon
1995
TV Series
Serviteur
Hearts & Minds
1995
Chopper-Xuza
Cyborg Cop II
1994
Police Chief
The Air Up There
1994
Itumbo
Lethal Ninja
1992
Ndumo
Kwagga Strikes Back
1990
Tjicombo
Fatal Mission
1990/II
President Tembu
Voice in the Dark
1990
Caxton
American Ninja 4: The Annihilation
1990
Dr. Tamba
Laser Mission
1989
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Enemy Unseen
1989
Malanga
Brutal Glory
1989
Video
Chief
Killer Instinct
1989
President Mbule
Bush Shrink
1988
Gapu
The Emissary
1988
Beamish
Quiet Thunder
1988
Video
President Zalabok
Act of Piracy
1988
Herb Bunting
Diamonds High
1988
Zwide
Operation Hit Squad
1987
Ken
Scavengers
1987
Dr. Nduma
City of Blood
1987
Black Leader
John Ross: An African Adventure
1987
TV Series
Jacob
Jake Speed
1986
Joe Smith
King Solomon's Mines
1985
Umbopo
Van der Merwe P.I.
1985
Wiley
Morenga
1985
Morenga
The Riverman
1983
TV Mini-Series
Chief Kuyu Matonga (1983)
Tuxedo Warrior
1982
Inspector Nderi
Claws
1982
Moses
Bullet on the Run
1982
Joe Bullet
Shamwari
1982
Khumalo
Kill and Kill Again
1981
Gorilla
The Gods Must Be Crazy
1980
President
Flashpoint Africa
1980
Matari (Eddie Nkoya)
Game for Vultures
1979
Sixpence
King Solomon's Treasure
1979
Umpslopogas
Zulu Dawn
1979
Mantshonga
The Wild Geese
1978
Alexander
Slavers
1978
Musulma
Mister Deathman
1977
Sue
Les diamants du président
1977
TV Mini-Series
Mamba
Target of an Assassin
1977
Minister Manga
Death of a Snowman
1976
Chaka
Forever Young, Forever Free
1975
Thomas Luke
La diosa virgen
1974
Gampu
Pens en Pootjies
1974
Diamond seller
Joe Bullet
1973
Joe Bullet
Rogue Lion
1972
Mashoda
Daniel Boone
1967
TV Series
Kamba
Cowboy in Africa
1967
TV Series
Mulanda
All the Way to Paris
1966
Sudanese Delegate at Conference (uncredited)
The Naked Prey
1965
Leader of the Warriors
Dingaka
1964
Ntuku Makwena
The Hellions
1961
Kanna (uncredited)
Tremor
1961
The Fox Has Four Eyes
1959
Short
Father
The Condemned Are Happy
1958
Short
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bullet on the Run
1982
assistant director
Known for movies
The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980) as President
King Solomon's Mines (1985) as Umbopo
The Naked Prey (1965) as Leader of the Warriors
American Ninja 4: The Annihilation (1990) as Dr. Tamba
$17 Million
