Oliver Litondo

Last updated
Oliver Litondo
Born
Oliver Musila Litondo

(1948-08-04) 4 August 1948 (age 77)
Kakamega, Kenya
NationalityKenyan
Citizenship Kenya
Alma mater Harvard University
Stockholm University
University of Iowa
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Journalist
  • News Anchor
Known forThe Lion of Africa
Spouse
Beldina Auma
​
(m. 1997)​
Children4
AwardsAARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor

Oliver Musila Litondo (born August 4,1948) 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] [3] [4] For his portrayal as Maruge, Litondo won the AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor [5] [6] [7] and the Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor. [8] [9] [10] He was also nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his performance in The First Grader . [5] [7] [11]

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 KBC Channel 1 about the history of Kenyan film, Litondo said that he tried unsuccessfully to locate this pioneering film. [12] [13] [14]

Litondo is a graduate of the University of Iowa, Stockholm University and Harvard University. [15] He is married to Beldina Auma, and they have four children. One of their children, Grace Litondo, is a singer. [5] Litondo is a recipient of the Kalasha Lifetime Achievement award. [5]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968 Mlevi Film
1975 The Wilby Conspiracy [15] Minor role
1980The BushtrackersJohnny KimathiCast
1984 Sheena Chief HarcombaCast
1988 The Lion of Africa SergeantCast
1990 Ivory Hunters KennethCast
2010 The First Grader Kimani Ng'ang'a MarugeCast
2011 The Rugged Priest Catholic BishopCast
2024 Birthday Live Daudi
1971The Search for the NileKing MutesaCast, TV series (2 episodes)
1976 - 1977Orzowei, il Figlio Della SavanaAmunaiCast, Mini series
1977The Track of the African BongoNjiriCast
1977DisneylandNjiriCast, TV series ( 2 episodes)
2012The Truth About PriestStanleyCast, Short film
2013UnforgatableOkoro DimkaCast, TV series (1 episode)
2014Naku Penta Naku TakaVinays BoseCast
2022 Country Queen ProfCast, TV series (6 episodes)
2024Sambaza Furaha Na Safaricom Hii KrisiOld Wise ManCast, Short ad

Award and nominations

YearAwarding OrganizationCategoryNomineeResultRef
2012Image Awards (NAACP)Outstanding Actor in a Motion PictureOliver LitondoNominated [16] [17]
2012Black Reel AwardsBest ActorOliver LitondoNominated [18] [19]
2011Black Film Critics Circle AwardsBest ActorOliver LitondoWon
2012Kalasha Internationa Film and TV AwardsLifetime Achievement AwardOliver LitondoWon [20] [21]
2012AARP Movies for Grownups AwardsBest ActorOliver LitondoWon

References

  1. ↑ Clarke, Cath (12 May 2011). "First sight: Oliver Musila Litondo". The Guardian . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  2. ↑ mkenyaujerumani (2013-09-02). "Cologne Germany to Hollywood – The Kenyan Who Rose to Become an Award Winning Actor". Mkenya Ujerumani. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  3. ↑ Kerongo, Grace (26 July 2013). "Kenya: Oliver Litondo Bags Role in U.S. Crime Thriller". AllAfrica.com . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Clarke, Cath (2011-05-12). "First sight: Oliver Musila Litondo". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-09-09.
  5. 1 2 3 4 MARGARETTA WA GACHERU (20 August 2013). "Oliver Litondo: From Hollywood with goodies". Daily Nation . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  6. ↑ Potts, Kimberly (20 January 2012). "AARP's Best Movie for Grownups? 'The Descendants'". Reuters . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Another starring role for Oliver Litondo". Business Daily Africa. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  8. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (20 December 2011). "'The Help' Named Best Film of 2011 by Black Film Critics Circle". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "'The Help' Voted Best Pic By Black Critics; Viola Davis, Olivier Litondo Top Actors". Deadline Hollywood. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  10. ↑ Knegt, Peter (22 December 2011). "'The Help' and 'Pariah' Top Black Film Critics' Awards". IndieWire . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "NAACP Image Award Winners Include 'The Help,' Stars Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis". The Hollywood Reporter. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  12. ↑ Gakuru, Wanjeri (July 30, 2024). "Reel Talk: Presently in the Future". People's Stories Project. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  13. ↑ Njasi Simiyu, Kennedy (21 March 2022). "Evolution of Film Policy in Kenya". African Social Science and Humanities Journal. 3 (2) – via African Journals Online.
  14. ↑ 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)
  15. 1 2 Odidi, Bill (15 October 2010). "New lease of life for Litondo". Daily Nation . Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  16. ↑ "NAACP Image Awards – Buzz Central" . Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  17. ↑ "Another starring role for Oliver Litondo - Business Daily". www.businessdailyafrica.com. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  18. ↑ ago, Standard Digital | 13yrs. "Star shines bright for 'The First grader' actor". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-09-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ "Kenya's Litondo beats top US actors to bag award". Monitor. 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  20. ↑ "Oliver Litondo: From Hollywood with goodies". Daily Nation. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  21. ↑ "Kenya's best on screen feted at Kalasha awards". Daily Nation. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
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