Oliver Litondo

Last updated
Oliver Litondo
Born
Oliver Musila Litondo

1948
NationalityKenyan
Alma materHarvard University
Stockholm University
University of Iowa
Occupation(s)Actor, Journalist and news anchor.
SpouseBeldina.
AwardsAARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor

Oliver Musila Litondo (born 1948) is a Kenyan actor, journalist and news anchor. [1] He is known for portraying Kimani Maruge in the 2010 biographical film The First Grader. [2] For his portrayal as Maruge, Litondo won the AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor [3] [4] [5] and the Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor. [6] [7] [8] He was also nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his performance in The First Grader. [3] [5] [9]

Contents

Litondo's first known role is in Ragbir Singh's Mlevi (The Drunkard) (1968), the first feature length film in Swahili and considered the first locally produced Kenyan feature film. In a 2024 segment on KCB Channel 1 about the history of Kenyan film, Litondo said that he tried unsuccessfully to locate this pioneering film. [10] [11] [12]

Litondo is a graduate of the University of Iowa, Stockholm University and Harvard University. [13] He is married to Beldina. [3] Litondo is a recipient of the Kalasha Lifetime Achievement award. [3]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968 Mlevi Film
1975 The Wilby Conspiracy [13]
1980The BushtrackersJohnny Kimathi
1984 Sheena Harcomba
1988 The Lion of Africa SergeantTV movie
1990 Ivory Hunters Kenneth
2010 The First Grader Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge
2011 The Rugged Priest Catholic Bishop
2022 Birthday Live DaudiTo Be Released

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glynn Turman</span> American actor, writer, director (born 1947)

Glynn Turman is an American actor, director, writer, and producer. First coming to attention as a child actor in the original 1959 Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun, Turman is known for his roles as Lew Miles on the prime-time soap opera Peyton Place (1968–1969), high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford Taylor on the NBC sitcom A Different World (1988–1993), and Baltimore mayor Clarence Royce on the HBO drama series The Wire. He received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role on the HBO drama series In Treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viola Davis</span> American actress and producer (born 1965)

Viola Davis is an American actress and film producer. Known for her work across screen and stage, her accolades include both the Triple Crown of Acting and the EGOT. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012 and 2017. In 2020, The New York Times ranked her ninth on its list of the greatest actors of the 21st century.

<i>The First Grader</i> 2010 film by Justin Chadwick

The First Grader is a 2011 biographical drama film directed by Justin Chadwick. It stars Naomie Harris, Oliver Litondo, and Tony Kgoroge. The film is inspired by the true story of Kimani Maruge, a Kenyan farmer who enrolled in elementary school at the age of 84 following the Kenyan government's announcement of free universal primary education in 2003 by the late Emilio Mwai Kibaki, the third president of the Republic of Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Issa Rae</span> American actress and writer (born 1985)

Jo-Issa Rae Diop, credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, and producer. Founder of Hoorae Media, she achieved wider recognition as the co-creator, co-writer, and star of the HBO television series Insecure (2016–2021), for which she was nominated for multiple Golden Globes Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Higher Ground Productions</span> Media production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama

Higher Ground Productions, also known simply as Higher Ground, is an American production company which was founded in 2018 by former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

<i>Ma Raineys Black Bottom</i> (film) 2020 film by George C. Wolfe

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a 2020 American drama film directed by George C. Wolfe and written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on the 1982 play of the same name by August Wilson. The film stars Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, and Michael Potts. Inspired by the career of Ma Rainey, an influential blues singer and the title character, the film dramatizes a turbulent recording session in 1920s Chicago.

The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Movie for Grownups is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP since the awards' inception in 2002. The award honors the best film in a given year made by or about people who are fifty years old or older. The Best Movie for Grownups Award is one of the seven original trophies issued by AARP the Magazine, along with awards for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Director</span>

The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Director is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP since the awards' inception in 2002. The award honors the best director over the age of fifty. The Best Director Award is one of the seven original trophies issued by AARP the Magazine, along with awards for Best Movie for Grownups, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor</span>

The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP since the awards' inception in 2002. The award honors the best actor over the age of fifty. The Best Actor Award is one of the seven original trophies issued by AARP the Magazine, along with awards for Best Movie for Grownups, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actress</span>

The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actress is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP since the awards' inception in 2002. The award honors the best actress over the age of fifty. The Best Actress Award is one of the seven original trophies issued by AARP the Magazine, along with awards for Best Movie for Grownups, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Foreign Film, Best Documentary, and Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Supporting Actor</span>

The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP. The award honors an actor over the age of 50 who has given an outstanding performance in a film in a given year. The awards for Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress were first given at the 7th AARP Movies for Grownups Awards in 2008. Prior to that, the only individual acting awards were for Best Actor and Best Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Supporting Actress</span>

The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Supporting Actress is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP. The award honors an actress over the age of 50 who has given an outstanding supporting performance in a film in a given year. The awards for Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor were first given at the 7th AARP Movies for Grownups Awards in 2008. Prior to that, the only individual acting awards were for Best Actor and Best Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Screenwriter</span>

The AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Screenwriter is one of the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards presented annually by the AARP. The award honors a screenwriter over the age of 50 who has written an outstanding supporting screenplay for a film produced in a given year. The award for Best Screenwriter was first given in 2003, when the awards expanded beyond their initial categories of Best Movie for Grownups, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Documentary, Best Foreign Film, and Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up.

References

  1. ↑ Clarke, Cath (12 May 2011). "First sight: Oliver Musila Litondo". The Guardian . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  2. ↑ Kerongo, Grace (26 July 2013). "Kenya: Oliver Litondo Bags Role in U.S. Crime Thriller". AllAfrica.com . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 MARGARETTA WA GACHERU (20 August 2013). "Oliver Litondo: From Hollywood with goodies". Daily Nation . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Potts, Kimberly (20 January 2012). "AARP's Best Movie for Grownups? 'The Descendants'". Reuters . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Another starring role for Oliver Litondo". Business Daily Africa. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  6. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (20 December 2011). "'The Help' Named Best Film of 2011 by Black Film Critics Circle". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "'The Help' Voted Best Pic By Black Critics; Viola Davis, Olivier Litondo Top Actors". Deadline Hollywood. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  8. ↑ Knegt, Peter (22 December 2011). "'The Help' and 'Pariah' Top Black Film Critics' Awards". IndieWire . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "NAACP Image Award Winners Include 'The Help,' Stars Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis". The Hollywood Reporter. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  10. ↑ Gakuru, Wanjeri (July 30, 2024). "Reel Talk: Presently in the Future". People's Stories Project. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  11. ↑ Njasi Simiyu, Kennedy (21 March 2022). "Evolution of Film Policy in Kenya". African Social Science and Humanities Journal. 3 (2) – via African Journals Online.
  12. ↑ KBC Channel 1 (2023-12-11). Kenya at 60 : A look at the growth in the film industry . Retrieved 2024-07-30– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. 1 2 Odidi, Bill (15 October 2010). "New lease of life for Litondo". Daily Nation . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.