Malick Bowens obit

Malick Bowens(1941-2017)

 

He was not on the list.

Early in his acting career Malick Bowens met the worldwide renowned director Peter Brook who invited him to join his theater company, ICTR (International Center on Theatrical Research). This meeting led to a long lasting collaboration, which had a great influence on the actor's life and career. The actor is still actively involved in the company's projects and its search for universal convergences between the great diversity of theatrical expressions. His African heritage and European experiences make his artistic contribution very special. The novel and experimental approach imply playing on stages all over the world for the most diverse audiences. Hence the actor has performed in San Francisco and Still Water Penitentiary in Texas, Native Americans in Minnesota, residents of impoverished neighborhoods in Mexico, New York and London, patients from psychiatric wards in various countries, villagers in West Africa... While working on ICTR projects with Peter Brook, Malick Bowens developed acting skills in the Shakespearian tradition and mastered the fundamental principals of improvisation and concentration. He did extensive voice and physical training and practiced classical languages such as Greek and Latin. His professionalism and talent quickly led him to the most prestigious stages in the world: "The Brooklyn Academy of Music" and the "La Mama Theater" in New York; "The Royal Court," "Round House," and "The Almeida Theatre" in London; "Les Bouffes of the Nord" and "Le Theatre of the Ville" in Paris; "Olympico" and the "Pyramide" theaters in Rome; "Porta Romena" in Milan; "The Schaubukne" in Berlin; "The Nimorod Theatre" in Sydney.

Without renouncing the stage Malick Bowens started playing for film directors, both in cinema and television. We all remember his interpretation of the charismatic steward Farah Aden in the twelve Oscars winning movie 'Out of Africa' (directed by S. Pollack, co-starring Robert Redford and Merryl Streep). Some of his subsequent memorable participation in prestigious movies with the most eminent directors and actors include "The Believers" with John Schlesinger and Martin Sheen, "Bopha" with Morgan Freeman and Danny Glover, "When we were Kings" (the Oscar winning documentary) with Taylor Hackford, "Outbreak" with Wolfgang Peterson and Dustin Hoffman, "Ali" with Will Smith and Michael Mann, and "Tears of the Sun" with Bruce Willis. His versatility and taste for experimentation naturally drew him to the American independent film industry - he played in "Menage a Trois" co-starring with Segourney Weaver and Mary Alice - and he joined the Sundance Institute ("Work in Progress") at Robert Redford's prompting.

Among the many parts he played for television the following two need a special mention: his role in the series "Tarzan" (Worldivision Prod.) and in the film "The March" (BBC and A&E). The latter, recognized as one of the most important political films (directed by David Wheatley and written by William Nicholson) deals with the tragic lives of sub-Saharan migrants on their long journey toward Europe, a story that is unfortunately more relevant today than ever. In his professional and personal life Malick Bowens shows an unflagging curiosity for the arts and a desire for exchanges and partaking in experimental projects. He enjoys sharing his experience and ideas within the framework of workshops, universities and academic institutions. He regularly offers his support to non profit organizations which bring new technologies for the development of agriculture in drought ridden regions, or group searching for solutions to the situation of child soldiers in the world. His concern for and involvement in humanitarian and environmental causes, his sensibility to human suffering and social injustices has enabled him to meet and establish relationships with such prominent personalities as the Literature Nobel Prize winners Woli Soyinke and Toni Morrison; the Peace Nobel Prize recipient Desmond Tutu, the doctor Moshe Feldenkrais; the charismatic Chicano leader Cesar Chavez; the poet Ted Hughes; and the actors Robert Redford, Martin Sheen, Morgan Freeman, Taylor Hackford; personalities who share with him the conviction that talent and fame can be powerful tools in the ongoing struggle for the advancement of human rights.

Actor

La dernière recrue (2013)

La dernière recrue

Aaron Jacobs

2013

 

Stalingrad Lovers (2012)

Stalingrad Lovers

5.9

L'émissaire

2012

 

Orpailleur (2009)

Orpailleur

5.3

Aldémir

2009

 

Half Empty (2006)

Half Empty

6.6

Jean Claude

2006

 

Jesus Ridin' Shotgun (2003)

Jesus Ridin' Shotgun

Short

2003

 

Bruce Willis and Monica Bellucci in Tears of the Sun (2003)

Tears of the Sun

6.6

Colonel Idris Sadick

2003

 

Will Smith in Ali (2001)

Ali

6.7

Joseph Mobutu

2001

 

The School Teacher (1993)

The School Teacher

5.3

TV Series

Le sorcier

2001

1 episode

 

Code Unknown (2000)

Code Unknown

7.1

Witch Doctor

2000

 

Marie Gillain in Harem Suare (1999)

Harem Suare

6.1

Midhat

1999

 

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dennis Rodman in Double Team (1997)

Double Team

4.8

Delta Four

1997

 

Cordier and Son: Judge and Cop (1992)

Cordier and Son: Judge and Cop

4.8

TV Series

Sélim Amadia

1996

1 episode

 

Morgan Freeman, Dustin Hoffman, and Rene Russo in Outbreak (1995)

Outbreak

6.6

Dr. Raswani

1995

 

Bopha! (1993)

Bopha!

6.5

Pule Rampa

1993

 

Clin d'oeil

Short

1992

 

Tarzán (1991)

Tarzán

5.6

TV Series

Simon Govier

1991–1992

25 episodes

 

Sous le signe du poisson (1991)

Sous le signe du poisson

3.7

TV Movie

Le commandant

1991

 

The March (1990)

The March

6.2

Isa El-Mahdi

1990

 

Martin Sheen, Helen Shaver, Malick Bowens, Harley Cross, Lee Richardson, Elizabeth Wilson, and Harris Yulin in The Believers (1987)

The Believers

6.1

Palo

1987

 

Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa (1985)

Out of Africa

7.1

Farah

1985

 

Le bout du lac

TV Movie

Félicien

1984

 

Mint Tea (1984)

Mint Tea

6.7

Bakaba

1984

 

Claude Rich in Dans la citadelle (1983)

Dans la citadelle

TV Movie

Alpha Kando

1983

 

À vendre (1980)

Side Roads

4.8

Banania

1983

 

Mesure pour mesure

TV Movie

Escalus

1979

 

Self

Muhammad Ali in When We Were Kings (1996)

When We Were Kings

7.9

Self - Artist (as Malik Bowens)

1996

"The Mahabharata"-Director Peter Brook Performed in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Australia, Japan

"The Conference of the Birds"- Poems by Farid Uddin, director Peter Brook Brooklyn academy, La MaMa Theater-New York

"The Bone"-Birago Diop, Adapted by Jean-Claude Carriere and Malick Bowens Role: Mor Lam- Performed at the Avignon festival, and in Paris, London, Zurich, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, South America

"Measure for Measure"-William Shakespeare, director Peter Brook- Adapted by John-Claude Carriere-Role: Escalus- Performed in Paris, Zurick, Berlin, Rome

"Ubi Roi and Ubu Enchaine" -A.Jerry, director Peter Brook- Adapted by Jean-Claude Carriere-Role: King Wenceslas- Performed in Paris, London, Zurick, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, South America

"Tinon of Athens"-William Shakespeare, director Peter Brook- Adapted by Jean-Claude Carriere- Role: Apementus- Performed in Paris, Zurich, Berlin, Rome

"The Iks"-Colin Turnbull, director Peter Brook- Adapted by Jean-Claude Carriere- Role: Lolim- Performed in London, Berlin, Belgrade, New York, Los Angeles

"Kasper Hauser"-Peter Handke, director Peter Brook- Role: Kasper Hauser- Performed in Paris

"Orghast"- Ted Hughes- Shiraz-Festival, Persopolis

"M. Harold and the Boys- Athol Fugard, director Jack Garfein- Role: Sam- Performed in Paris

"Blood Knot"- Athol Fugard, director Yutaka Wada- Apapted by Koltes- Performed in Paris, Avignon Festival

"New York Blues"- Leopold Senghor, director David Pharao- Role: narrator

"Slave"- Leroi Jones, director Antoine Bouseiller

"Dutchman"- Leroi Jones, director Antoine Bouseiller

"L'Arlesienne"- A. Daudet, director Henri Moati- Role: Balthazar

Workshop: Actor Studio Los Angeles, with Shelley Winter.

Workshop: Beverly Hills Playhouse- Directed by Milton Katselas, Hollywood, California.

Workshop: Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York.

Workshop: El Teatro Campesino and Luis Valdez- San Juan Bautista, California.

Workshop: Tour of Indian Reservations, Minnesota, USA.

Workshop: 'The National Theatre of the Deaf,' Eugene O'Neill Theatre- Waterford, Connecticut.

Workshop: 'Work in Progress' Robert Redford's Sundance Institute with Paul Muzursky, Karl Malden, Alan Alda

Workshop: International Tour of Africa, 'The Conference of the Birds' with the Peter Brooke Company. In Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Dahomy, Mali.

"Orghast Persepolis" Director Peter Brooke, Written by Ted Hughes

Workshop: International Center for Theater Research, founded and directed by Peter Brooke

 

Alternative name

Malik Bowens

Born

February 25, 1941Bamako, Mali

Died

November 3, 2017Pertuis, Vaucluse, France