Ji-Tu Cumbuka obit

Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Actor in ‘Roots’ and ‘Harlem Nights,’ Dies at 77

The Alabama native also had roles in 'Bound for Glory,' 'Bachelor Party' and 'Volunteers.'

 

He was not on the list.

Actor Ji-Tu Cumbuka, who appeared on Roots and in such films as Bound for Glory, Brewster’s Millions and Harlem Nights, has died. He was 77.

Cumbuka died Tuesday in Atlanta after a long illness, his niece, Amber Holifield, reported on Facebook.

Cumbuka portrayed the slave Wrestler on the landmark 1977 ABC miniseries Roots and played opposite Richard Pryor in Brewster’s Millions (1985), Moving (1988) and, as the character “Toothless Gambler,” in Harlem Nights (1989).

The 6-foot-5 actor had a recurring role as Torque, a man with a detachable hand, on the short-lived 1979 NBC series A Man Called Sloane, starring Robert Conrad, and he also appeared on the small screen in Brian’s Song, The Six Million Dollar Man, Ironside, Kung Fu, Sanford and Son, Knight Rider, Hunter, Knots Landing and CSI.

Cumbuka’s film résumé also included Blacula (1972), Maurie (1973), Mandingo (1975), Hal Ashby’s Bound for Glory (1976), Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976), Fun With Dick and Jane (1977), Angela (1977), Bachelor Party (1984), Volunteers (1985) and Outrageous Fortune (1987).

Born in Helena, Alabama on March 4, 1940, Cumbuka attended Texas Southern University. He made his onscreen debut in Uptight (1968), directed by Jules Dassin, and then had a role in Elvis Presley’s last film as an actor, Change of Habit (1969).

His name was given to him by his grandmother. Ji-Tu means “giant” and Cumbuka “to remember” in Swahili. He published a memoir, A Giant to Remember, in 2012.

Donations can be made to the actor’s Help Somebody Foundation Ministries, which he founded to provide services to underserved people through education and ministry.

Filmography

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1968      Uptight                 Rick       

1969      Change of Habit                Hawk    

1972      Top of the Heap                Pot Peddler       

1972      Blacula Skillet   

1972      Up the Sandbox                Black Captain    

1973      Trader Horn        Orange Stripe   

1973      Maurie Oscar    

1974      Lost in the Stars                Johannes            

1975      Mandingo            Cicero  

1976      Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde          Lt. Jackson          

1976      Bound for Glory                Slim Snedeger - Hobo on Train   

1977      Fun with Dick and Jane Guard   

1977      Angela                 

1979      Walk Proud         Sgt. Gannett      

1984      Bachelor Party   Alley Pimp          

1985      Doin' Time           Bernie Feldstein               

1985      Brewster's Millions          Melvin

1985      Volunteers          Cicero  

1986      Out of Bounds   Lemar  

1987      Outrageous Fortune       Cab Driver          

1988      Moving                 Edwards              

1988      Glitch!   Mookie                

1989      Harlem Nights   Toothless Gambler         

1990      Caged in Paradiso             Josh      

1993      Midnight Edition               Reginald Brown