Jude Akuwudike

Last updated

Jude Akuwudike
Born
Jude Akuwudike

1965 (age 5859)
Nationality Nigerian
Alma mater Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Awards2008 Red Rock Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize

Jude Akuwudike (born 1965) is a Nigerian actor. He has mostly worked in the United Kingdom, on screen and stage. [1]

Contents

He has appeared in productions of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

Early life

Akuwudike trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art RADA 62 Gower Street, London WC1E 6ED. Frontage dates from 1905.JPG
Akuwudike trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Born in Nigeria, West Africa, [2] Akuwudike moved to Britain and was educated at St Augustine's College in Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, an independent Roman Catholic boarding school. In 1985, he began to train for an acting career at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1987. [3]

Career

In 1988, Akuwudike played Captain Watkin Tench in Our Country's Good at the Royal Court Theatre. [4] His first film appearance was in the same year, as a priest in A World Apart . [5] An early leading role came in 1989 in the play The Fatherland by Murray Watts, at the Bush Theatre at Riverside, [6] and his first significant part on television was as Sergeant Gummer in the drama serial Virtual Murder (1991).[ citation needed ]

Throughout his career, Akuwudike has worked mainly on stage, including appearing in several productions for the National Theatre, notably Not About Nightingales , Moon on a Rainbow Shawl , and Ion [ citation needed ]. He has also appeared for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as working on Broadway. He has also had many roles in film and television and is a voice actor. [7]

In 1998, in the first British production of Not About Nightingales by Tennessee Williams, directed by Trevor Nunn at the National Theatre, Akuwudike originated the part of "the Queen", a gay prisoner. [8] In 2002 he played the black pimp in a Royal National Theatre production of Edmond , with Kenneth Branagh in the title role. [9]

From February to May 2011, Akuwudike was Abel Magwitch in an English Touring Theatre production of Great Expectations (adapted by Tanika Gupta), with Lynn Farleigh as Miss Havisham. [10] [11]

In the Cary Joji Fukunaga film Beasts of No Nation (2015), Akuwudike played Supreme Commander Dada Goodblood, leader of an unnamed West African country torn by civil war. [12]

In September 2018, it was announced that Akuwudike had been cast alongside Joe Cole and Sope Dirisu in a new Cinemax television serial called Gangs of London , then in production. [13]

The Actor's career has been centered on stage performances which includes notable roles in movie production for th National Theatre and the Royal Shakespare Company. [14]

Personal life

Jude's Networth is estimated to be around $4 million. Jude is currently at the age of 58years as at 2023. He is married with a wife and children although the number of children is not stated. [15]

It is stated that both his parents played a notable role in his personal life and career. He has a brother and a sister although specific details are not mentioned. [16]

Filmography

Film

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
YearFilmRoleNotes
1988 A World Apart Priest [17]
1997Richard IIScroop [18] TV film
1998 The Ebb-Tide FakeevaTV film
2000 A Likeness in Stone DC Levi PryorTV film
2005 Sahara Imam
2007Jehovah's WitnessPercyShort
2010 The Tempest Boatswain
2015 Beasts of No Nation Dada Goodblood
2020 Eyimofe Mofe
2021 Benediction Priest
2023 The Little Mermaid Joshua
2024 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Lord Thorne

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 Screenplay ThomasEpisode: "The Land of Dreams"
1992 Virtual Murder Sergeant GummerSeries regular
1993 Between the Lines Custody SergeantEpisode: "Big Boys' Rules: Part II"
1994 The Bill Mr. JensenEpisode: "All Along the Watchtower"
1996-1999 Roger Roger HenrySeries regular
1998 Heat of the Sun Elihu MwangiEpisode: "The Sport of Kings"
1999 Kavanagh QC Matthew AttaEpisode: "Previous Convictions"
2003 Silent Witness Malcolm LindenEpisode: "Running on Empty"
Holby City Derek FletcherEpisode: "Know When to Fold"
2005 Bad Girls Leroy1 episode
The Last Detective BradshawEpisode: "Towpaths of Glory"
2007 Silent Witness WilliEpisode: "Suffer the Children"
2009 Moses Jones Matthias MutukulaMini-series
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Oswald RantaEpisode: "The Boy with an African Heart"
Holby City Marvin StewartEpisode: "What Will Survive of Us"
2010 Law & Order: UK Marcus WrightEpisode: "Skeletons"
2012 Holby City Gabriel VaughanEpisode: "Hail Caesar"
2013 Doctors Thomas Tembe3 episodes
2015 Cucumber Ralph Sullivan1 episode
2016 Stan Lee's Lucky Man Dr. MarghaiEpisode: "A Twist of Fate"
Undercover Al1 episode
Friday Night Dinner Custody SergeantEpisode: "The Funeral"
2017 Chewing Gum AlexEpisode: "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number"
Death in Paradise Tony GarretEpisode: "In the Footsteps of a Killer"
The A Word Vincent Daniels3 episodes
2017-2018 Fortitude Doctor AdebimpeRecurring role
2018 Kiri Reverend Lipide1 episode
2018-2020 In the Long Run Uncle AkieSeries regular
2019 Moving On Dr. BelloEpisode: "Frozen"
Plebs AgrippaEpisode: "The Banquet"
2020 Gangs of London Charlie CarterRecurring role
On the EdgeDadEpisode: "BBW"
2021 Manhunt Delroy Grant Series regular
2022 The Crown Sydney Johnson Episode: "Mou Mou"
2023 Casualty Clark JohnsonEpisode: "No Regrets"
Culprits Carl MarkingEpisode: "Circle in a Circle"

Stage

YearTitleRoleVenueNotes
1988 The Park Norman Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Moon on a Rainbow Shawl Ketch Almeida Theatre, Islington, London
Our Country's Good Captain Watkin Tench Royal Court Theatre, London
The Recruiting Officer Scruple/Costar Pearmain/Balance's Servantalso World Tour
1989 "Master Harold"...and the Boys Sam Bristol Old Vic, Bristol
1990 Death and the King's Horseman Olunde Royal Exchange, Manchester
1991 A Long Way From Home Tomi Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, London
Light in the VillageRhodes Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
1993 Marching for Fausa Sssi Royal Court Theatre, London
Wiseguy Scapino Léandre Theatr Clwyd, Mold
1994 Ion Hermes-Athens The Pit, Barbican Centre, London
Poor Super Man Shannon Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
1995 Richard II Sir Stephen Scroop/Lord Fitwater Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London
The Machine Wreckers William
1996Nuremberg: The War Crimes Trial Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, London
1998 Not About Nightingales The Queen Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London
1999 Honk! The Ugly Duckling Turkey Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London
2000 A Doll's House Nils Krogstad Ambassadors Theatre, London
2001 Luminosity Saul Mercer The Pit, Barbican Centre, London
Young Hamlet King Claudius Young Vic, The Cut, London
Brixton Stories Ossie The Pit, Barbican Centre, London also UK Tour
2002 The Winter's Tale Antigonus The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London & Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Pericles Cerimon
2003 Henry V Pistol Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London
Edmond A Pimp
2004 The Jungle Book Akela Northampton Royal, Northampton
2005 Pericles Antichus/Lysinichus Globe Theatre, London
2006 The Overwhelming Joseph Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London with Out of Joint Theatre Company
2007 Macbeth Banquo Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Macbett Glamiss
2008 God In Ruins Soho Theatre, Soho, London
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Dullfeet Lyric Hammersmith, London
Walking Waterfall Odame Almeida Theatre, Islington, London with Tiata Fahodzi
2009 Iya-Ile Chief Adeyemi Soho Theatre, Soho, London
Othello Othello Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner The Mariner Southbank Centre, London
2011 Great Expectations Magwitch Watford Palace Theatre, Watford
Passing Wind Justice New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich part of Pulse Fringe Festival
The Faith Machine Lawrence/Patrick Royal Court Theatre, London
Britannicus Burrhus Wilton's Music Hall, Shadwell, London
2012 Moon on a Rainbow Shawl Charlie Adams Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London also UK Tour
Ignorance Dr Nasir al-Maliki Hampstead Theatre, London
2013 Othello Othello Cockpit Theatre, London also USA Tour
2015 Hamlet Asylum Seeker Claudius UK Tourwith Talawa Theatre Company
The Crucible Reverend Parris Bristol Old Vic, Bristol
2016 Workshop Negative Mkhize Gate Theatre, London
The RoyaleWynton Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush, London
2017 The Lower Depths Abram Ivanich Medvediev Arcola Theatre, London
The Cherry Orchard Yermolai Alexeievitch Lopakhin
2018 The Two Noble Kinsmen Theseus Globe Theatre, London
The Convert Uncle Young Vic, The Cut, London
2019 Three Sisters Eze Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London
2022 Henry V King of France/Archbishop of Canterbury/Sir Thomas Erpingham Donmar Warehouse, London
House of IfeSolomon Bush Theatre, London
2023 The Dumb Waiter Various Greenwich Theatre, London
A Slight Ache Various Greenwich Theatre, London

Games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021 GTFO Dr. Abeo Dauda

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
1994 Martini Rossi TMA Awards Best Supporting Actor Poor Super Man Won [19]
2008 Red Rock Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize Special Achievement in Acting RoleJehovah's WitnessWon [20]
2016 Screen Nation Film and Television Awards Favourite International Film (with Idris Elba & Ama K. Abebrese) Beasts of No Nation Won [21]
2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Eyimofe Nominated [22]

Notes

  1. NetflixReleases. "Jude Akuwudike". www.netflixreleases.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. Tiziana Morosetti, Africa on the Contemporary London Stage (2018), p. 104.
  3. Jane Milling, Modern British Playwriting: the 80s (2012), p. 211.
  4. Timberlake Wertenbaker, Our Country's Good (2015), p. 16.
  5. J. T. Rogers, The Overwhelming (2006), "Biographies".
  6. "The Fatherland", programme from the Bush Theatre at Riverside, 1989.
  7. About the Players at shakespeare.nd.edu (Shakespeare at Notre Dame). Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  8. Plays and Players Applause, Issue 521 (1998), p. 9.
  9. Plays International, Volume 18 (Chancery Publications, 2002), p. 14.
  10. Howard Loxton (2011). "Great Expectations". British Theatre Guide.
  11. Mary Hammond, Charles Dickens's Great Expectations: A Cultural Life, 1860–2012 (2015), Appendix C.
  12. Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, "Idris Elba highlights the flawed Beasts of No Nation", 15 October 2015 at film.avclub.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  13. Alex Ritman, Gangs of London Cinemax Series Sets Cast dated 12 May 2018, hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  14. "Jude Akuwudike Biography, Early Life, Personal Life, Career, Family, Parents, Net Worth & More". whoiswriter.com. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  15. "Jude Akuwudike Biography, Early Life, Personal Life, Career, Family, Parents, Net Worth & More". whoiswriter.com. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  16. "Jude Akuwudike Biography, Early Life, Personal Life, Career, Family, Parents, Net Worth & More". whoiswriter.com. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  17. Bakare, Tonye (28 March 2021). "Jude Akuwudike: Being Eyimofe". The Guardian (Nigeria). Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  18. Warner, Deborah. "Richard II, 1997". Deborah Warner. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  19. "Jude Akuwudike". Hamilton Hodell. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  20. "Jude Akuwudike - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  21. "11th Screen Nation Film & Television Awards 2016: Rewarding Excellence – Celebrating Diversity". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  22. Banjo, Noah (29 October 2021). "FULL LIST: Ayinla, Omo Ghetto: The Saga bag multiple nominations at AMAA 2021". Punch Newspapers. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

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