Ken Gampu

(****-2003). Actor. Performed in Of Mice and Men (as “Lenny”). (SACD 1978/79)

GAMPU, Ken. (1929-2003) Teacher, stage, film and TV actor and impressario. Perhaps the first black superstar. Born in Germiston, he had several jobs before he began his career (e.g physical training instructor, salesman, interpreter and police officer). Then he got a role in Athol Fugard's No-Good Friday (1958), and took up a bursary from the Women's Art Club to study acting at Dorkay House. Went on to act in plays such as King Kong (1959), Of Mice and Men (1975), and Ipi Ntombi (19*, reviving it in 1999 as entrepreneur and actor, with ****, the daughter of the original impressario, ***). His film debut came with Tremor (1960), but it was Jamie Uys's Dingaka (1964) which made him famous. At this time he left South Africa to work for Paramount and 20th Century Fox in Hollywood for a few years. Returned in the 1970s to continue his local career, but still working on many international films. His film credits include: The Naked Prey (1966), Target of an Assassin (1976), Slavers (1978), The Wild Geese (1978), Zulu Dawn (1979), The Gods Must Be Crazy (1981), Claws (1982), King Solomon’s Mines (1985), Morenga (1985), American Ninja 4: The Annihilation (1991), Lethal Ninja (1993) and Cyborg Cop II (1994), A Reasonable Man (1999). Regular TV appearances include series such as Ihashi Lensimbi and River Horse Lake. In 1994 he was awarded a Sivler medal by the city of Benoni, in recognition of his contribution to the performing arts. He died on 4 November 2003, in Vosloosrus.

GAMPU, Ken. He starred in No-Good Friday, Athol Fugard’s first play, which was staged at the Bantu Men's Social Centre (BMSC) in conjunction with the Union of Southern African Artists in 1958. Fugard himself also appeared in the play, together with Dan Poho, Steve Moloi, Bloke Modisane, Gladys Sibisa and Zakes Mokae. This play was later transferred to the Brooke Theatre for a ‘whites only’ run. He starred in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men which John Higgins and Joe Stewardson staged at the Lake Theatre in 1975. It also starred Stewardson, Don Leonard and Diane Appleby. (De Beer, 1995; The Times 04/12/2003, Die Burger 15/11/2003, The Guardian 19/11/2003, Tucker, 1997)

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