Benjamin Onyango

Last updated
Benjamin Onyango
Born
Benjamin Alfred Onyango Ochieng

(1960-05-18) May 18, 1960 (age 64)
Nairobi, Kenya
NationalityKenyan
American
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active1999–present

Benjamin Alfred Onyango Ochieng, is a Kenyan-American actor, particularly active in Hollywood film industry. He is best known for the roles in the films Tears of the Sun, God's Not Dead and Beautifully Broken. [1]

Contents

Personal life

He was born in Ofafa Jericho Estate in Eastlands, Nairobi, Kenya, as the second child in a family of seven brothers. [2] His father was Christopher Ochieng and mother was Eudiah Achieng Ochieng. Benjamin started his primary education in Ofafa Jericho Primary School then Ofafa Jericho Secondary School. When Benjamin turned 18, he was hired by his dad at British American Tobacco Kenya Ltd (BAT) and later he was moved to a clerk position in the Wages Department where he worked for 4 years. Then he was transferred to computer department and worked for two years. [3]

He later joined United States International University (USIU) to study Management Information Systems (MIT). For further studies, Benjamin moved to the USIU, San Diego in the USA. [4] From there, he was transferred to California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, California. Then in 1992, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science. [3]

Career

After graduation, he relocated to Hollywood, California, where he further studied music and acting. He worked with Funk Rock band 'P.F.O.' for few years later decided to be a professional actor. With this thought, he started to appear in many feature films and popular American television serials such as General Hospital, The Shield and The X-files in 1999. [3] Meanwhile, he starred in The God’s Not Dead Trilogy franchise as well as Tears of the Sun, Heavenly Deposit, Beautifully Broken, Father Africa, The Boy, Road to Redemption, Default, Kwame, Chains, Thunder Chance, The Disciple, American Crude and The Terminal. [4]

He also became a voice actor and rendered his voice to the films and television serials including; Last Face, Furious 7, Constantine, Night At the Museum I & III, Machine Gun Preacher, Inception, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Primeval, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Path to 911, Mighty Joe Young and E-ring. [4] [3]

Apart from acting, he is also a writer with popular writing credits include: The Wives (TV series); Dysfunctionally Organized (Web Series); Mind Tricks and Curse of Devil’s Mountain (Shorts), Cheza and Original Man (Films). [4] [3]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleGenreRef.
1999 The X-Files Second African ManTV series
2003 Tears of the Sun Colonel Emanuel OkezeFilm
2004The TerminalAfrican Man with Wife and ChildFilm
2005The ShieldStore ClerkTV series
2006General HospitalFatherTV series
2007The AnatolianSecurity OfficerFilm
2008The DiscipleDoctorFilm
2008American CrudeToomyFilm
2008KwameKwame OpokuShort film
2009ChainsBuhleShort film
2009Resident Evil 5MajiniVideo game
2010Thunder ChanceGeneralShort film
2010Mind TricksJoe ManningShort film
2011Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3DMajiniFilm
2011Curse of Devil's MountainMr. DeanShort film
2011Bosco's GuitarRadio Announcer & Male Attackers (voice)Short film
2012Chapter OneMao Aka BendrixShort film
2013MISSInformedFatherShort film
2013Trusts and EstatesWaiterDocumentary short
2014 God's Not Dead Reverend JudeFilm
2014DefaultEdwardFilm
2014Hollywood StreetSalemFilm
2015The BoyThe HealerShort film
2015The Other TribesOnyangoFilm
2015The Black PotGuestTV series
2016Madame Esmeralda and the AuditionBenvolioFilm
2016 God's Not Dead 2 Reverend JudeFilm
2016Dysfunctionally OrganizedStreet PreacherTV series
2016Road to RedemptionTribal Councilman 2Film
2017OscarSamuel BraxtonFilm
2017Father AfricaDr. HakiFilm
2018 God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness Reverend JudeFilm
2018 Beautifully Broken William MwizerwaFilm
2018A Minor VariationFigsShort film
2019GodforsakenEzekielFilm
2019Freshman YearChukwumahFilm
2019Heavenly DepositNigelFilm
2019The WivesOtienoTV series
2021 God's Not Dead: We the People Reverend JudeFilm

[5]

2023Where The River DividesBaba DennisFilm
TBDMy FriendJames EllisFilm

See also

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References

  1. "BENJAMIN A. ONYANGO: ACTOR". MUBI. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. "Kenyan Hollywood actor Benjamin Onyango in town". Nation Media Group. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Benjamin "Benji" Onyango: One on One with God's Not Dead Star". Medium. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Benjamin Onyango". Boxed The Film. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  5. Harper, Jennifer (2021-08-12). "Inspirational film explores challenges of homeschooling, the battle for 'our children's intellect'". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2021-08-22.