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- Marin's parents met while serving in the Peace Corps. She was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but her family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, when she was four months old. Two years later, her brother Mark was born. Her father, Rodney, is a retired school teacher. Her mother, Margaret, is a judge of the Massachusetts Superior Court.
Marin wanted to be a ballerina and studied dance until age 16, when an ankle injury ended her dancing aspirations. While concerned about her decision to pursue acting, her parents nonetheless urged her to follow her dreams, but they encouraged her to get a Master's degree so she could at least fall back on a teaching career in case things did not work out. She graduated from Brown University and then enrolled at New York University, where she says she was pretty terrible in her acting classes. In 1992, she met her husband Randall, a New York theater director. After her success, they both moved to a Hollywood home that they leased after a a 9-month separation.
Marin had her first successes performing in New York theater ("Electra" & "The Tempest"), then got some minor movie roles and then guest roles on several television shows before her co-starring role on Once and Again (1999). She then got a role as Judith Harper on the popular sitcom Two and a Half Men (2003) and did several guest appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999). - Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Rachel Luttrell is an accomplished actress and singer who has worked in film, television, and on stage. Rachel Zawadi Luttrell was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and is the second-born of four daughters of Veronica Makihiyo Shenkunde Luttrell, the daughter of a powerful medicine man of the Washambala tribes people, and William Leon Luttrell Jr., a Bossier City, Louisiana, native and then well-respected professor of economics at the University of Dar es Salaam. Shortly after her fifth birthday, Rachel and her family immigrated to Canada, settling in the cosmopolitan city of Toronto. As a child in Toronto, Rachel studied piano at the Royal Conservatory and ballet at the Russian Academy of Classical Ballet. Her father, a former member of both the critically acclaimed Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Canadian Opera Company, trained Rachel's soprano voice. Later, she studied with other fine vocal coaches. Rachel played the alto saxophone in high school and also studied English horseback riding. As a young girl, Rachel was always hamming it up for the camera and would often entertain guests at her parents' dinner parties by staging self-produced shows with her three sisters, Gillian, Amanda, and Erica. The Luttrell house was always full of music and laughter. Everyone sang and most played an instrument.
Luttrell landed her first film role while still in high school, playing Billy Dee Williams's daughter in the made-for-television movie Courage (1986), which also starred Sophia Loren. From there, Luttrell appeared in commercials and starred on popular Canadian television programs, including the long-running drama Street Legal (1987). Upon graduating from high school, Luttrell enrolled in the musical theater program at Sheridan College to pursue her passion for dancing, singing, and acting. However, after a year of study, Luttrell felt the call of a more academic education and left the college to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in English literature at the University of Toronto. While studying at U. of T., she auditioned for the Canadian premiere production of "Miss Saigon" alongside her older sister Gillian and several hundred other young hopefuls. Luttrell and her sister were both cast, and thus she began her musical theater career as a chorus girl and understudy for the lead character of Ellen. Luttrell went on to perform in the Canadian premiere production of Walt Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" (once again with big sister Gillian), and later to star in the American productions of "Once On This Island," "Goblin Market," and alongside Richard J. Alexander in his workshop musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's "Great Expectations."
In the summer of 1995, Luttrell moved from Toronto to Los Angeles to continue to pursue her career in film and television. She was kept very busy guest-starring on several popular TV shows, including ER (1994) and Charmed (1998), and in the short-lived but well-received show Sleepwalkers (1997), alongside Naomi Watts and Bruce Greenwood. In 2001, Luttrell appeared in Anne Rice's critically acclaimed TV movie The Feast of All Saints (2001), in which she played Peter Gallagher's on-screen daughter in a cast that also included Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Beals, and Ossie Davis. Later that same year, Luttrell appeared in a small but memorable role in the feature film Impostor (2001), opposite Gary Sinise.
Despite all of this success, Luttrell became frustrated with the life of a struggling young actress in Hollywood, and almost gave it up to pursue architecture at UCLA. Before throwing in the towel, Luttrell auditioned for BADA (British American Drama Academy) and won a spot in its prestigious President's Group. She spent a glorious summer in Oxford, UK, studying at Balliol College with some of the industry's best directors, teachers, and performers, including Alan Rickman and John Barton, one of the world's most esteemed Shakespearean scholars. When Luttrell returned to Los Angeles, she was cast in the premiere production of Lynn Nottage's "Las Meninas," earning wonderful reviews.
Shortly thereafter, Luttrell was cast in the role of Teyla Emmagan in the Sci-Fi Channel's spin-off series Stargate: Atlantis (2004), a show that won the loyalty of a worldwide fan base and ran for five seasons (2004 - 2009). In 2011, Luttrell completed her first CD titled "I Wish You Love," on which she collaborated with many of the music industry's finest performers, world-renowned percussionist Jeff Hamilton and stand-up bass virtuoso Jennifer Leitham among them. The CD was a grand collaborative effort spanning three countries and recorded in part at legendary Capitol Records in Hollywood. After Stargate: Atlantis (2004) finished, Luttrell made guest appearances on True Justice (2010), NCIS (2003), NCIS: Los Angeles (2009), No Sleep Till 18 (2015), and Arrow (2012).
When not in front of the camera, Luttrell indulges her love of writing, something that has always brought her great joy and reward.- Music Artist
- Music Department
- Actor
Freddie Mercury was born on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, sent him off to a private school in India, from 1955 til 1963. In 1964, he and his family flew to England. In 1966 he started his education at the Ealing College of Art, where he graduated in 1969. He loved art, and because of that, he often went along with his friend Tim Staffell, who played in a band called Smile. Also in this band where Brian May and Roger Taylor.
When Staffell left the band in 1970, Mercury became their new singer. He changed the band's name into Queen, and they took on a new bass-player in February 1971, called John Deacon. Their first album, "Queen", came out in 1973. But their real breakthrough was "Killer Queen", on the album "Sheer Heart Attack", which was released in 1974. They became immortal with the single "Bohemian Rhapsody", on the 1975 album "A Night At The Opera".
After their biggest hit in the USA in 1980 with "Another One Bites The Dust", they had a bad period. Their album "Flash Gordon" went down the drain, because the movie Flash Gordon (1980) flunked. Their next, the disco-oriented "Hot Space", was hated not only by rock critics but also by many hardcore fans. Only the song "Under Pressure", which they sang together with David Bowie, made a difference. In 1983, they took a year off. But, in 1984 they came back with their new album called "The Works". The singles "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free" did very well in the UK but a controversy over the video of the latter in the USA meant it got little exposure and flopped. Plans to tour the USA were cancelled and the band would not recover their popularity there during Mercury's lifetime.
In April 1985, Mercury released his first solo album, the less rock-oriented and more dance-oriented "Mr. Bad Guy". The album is often considered now to have been a flop, but it actually wasn't. It peaked at number six in the UK and stayed on the chart for 23 weeks, making it the most successful Queen solo project. The band got back together again after their barnstorming performance at Live Aid (1985) in July 1985. At the end of the year, they started working on their new album, "A Kind Of Magic". They also held their biggest ever world tour, the "Magic Tour". They played Wembley Stadium twice and held their very last concert in Knebworth, in front of 125.000 people.
After 1986, it went silent around Queen. In 1987, he was diagnosed with AIDS but he kept working at a pace. He released a cover of the 1950s song "The Great Pretender", which went into the UK top ten. After that, he flew to Spain, where he made the magnificent album "Barcelona", together with Montserrat Caballé, whom he saw performing in 1983. Because Mercury loved opera, he became a huge fan of her. For him, this album was like a dream becoming reality. The single "Barcelona" went huge, and was also used as a theme song for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
After "Barcelona", he started working with the band again. They made "The Miracle", which was released in early 1989. It was another success, with hits such as "Breakthru", "I Want It All", "The Invisible Man" and the title track. At this point, Mercury told the band he had AIDS, meaning that a tour of the album was out of the question. After Mercury told the band, he refused to talk about it anymore. He was afraid that people would buy their records out of pity. He said he wanted to keep making music as long as possible. And he did. After "The Miracle", Mercury's health got worse. They wanted to do one more album, called "Innuendo." They worked on it in 1990 and early 1991. Every time when Mercury would feel well, he came over to the studio and sang. After "Innuendo" was released in January 1991, they made two video clips. The first one was the video clip of "I'm Going Slightly Mad", shot in March 1991. Because Mercury was very thin, and had little wounds all over his body, they used a lot of make-up. He wore a wig, and the clip was shot in black and white.
Mercury's final video clip was released in June 1991. The clip, "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", later turned out to be his goodbye song, the last time he appeared on film. You could clearly see he was ill, but he still hadn't told the world about his disease. Rumours went around that he some kind of terrible disease. This rumor was confirmed by Mercury himself, one day before he passed on. His death was seen as a great loss for the world of popular music.- Actress
- Producer
Chipo Chung was born on 17 August 1977 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is an actress and producer, known for Sunshine (2007), In the Loop (2009) and Proof (2005).- Actor
- Additional Crew
Faulds was born in Africa into a missionary family. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1948, but it was as a radio actor that he first became widely known, playing Jet Morgan in Charles Chilton's "Journey into Space" on the BBC. In 1959, he and his wife were among those providing hospitality for the black-listed Paul Robeson during the latter's season at Stratford. It was Robeson who, recognising his friend's deep anti-racist convictions, persuaded him to go into politics, thus starting Faulds' second career. Labour MP for Smethwick from 1966-1974, and for Warley East from 1974-1997, he would no doubt have attained ministerial office if his outspoken support for the Palestinian cause had not been mis-construed as anti-Jewishness.- Nisha Nayar was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is an actress, known for Unicorns (2023), Cracker (2006) and The Buddha of Suburbia (1993).
- Actor
- Additional Crew
British Actor Bern Collaço was born in Dar Es Salaam, to George Collaço, an Electrical Engineer and Florinda Collaço, a Primary School Teacher. He has Portuguese ancestry and spent his early childhood growing up in Tanzania, East Africa and then in Goa, India. His later childhood being spent in London, England where he resides. He is a professional individual who has gained respect in the Film, Television and Commercial Industry due to his hard work and focused determination for success.- Kashmira Cooke was born in 1952 in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
- April Olrich was born on 17 July 1931 in Zanzibar, Tanzania. She was an actress, known for Supergirl (1984), Room at the Top (1958) and The Snow Queen (1955). She was married to Nigel Pegram. She died on 15 April 2014 in London, England, UK.
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Steven Kanumba was born on 8 January 1984 in Shinyanga, Tanzania. He was an actor and producer, known for The Shock (2011), Moses (2011) and Devil Kingdom (2012). He died on 7 April 2012 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.- Writer
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clare Peploe was born on 20 October 1941 in Tanga, Tanganyika, British East Africa (now Tanga, Tanzania). She was a writer and director, known for High Season (1987), The Triumph of Love (2001) and Rough Magic (1995). She was married to Bernardo Bertolucci. She died on 24 June 2021 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Michiel Blankwaardt was born on 12 February 1982 in Morogoro, Tanzania. He is an actor, known for Flikken Maastricht (2007), (R)Evolutie (2021) and Hunter Street (2017).
- Gorgeous and voluptuous brunette knockout Ida Ljungqvist was born on September 27, 1981 in Tanzania to a Swedish father and Tanzanian mother. Because her father works for UNICEF, Ida has lived in a dozen different countries and primarily grew up in East Africa and Southeast Asia. Ljungqvist speaks English, Swedish, and Swahili. She has a degree in fashion design and marketing. Ida was discovered by 2007 "Playboy" Playmate of the Year Sara Jean Underwood working as a sales specialist in a Bebe clothing store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Ljungqvist was the Playmate of the Month in the March, 2008 issue of "Playboy;" she has the distinction of being the first woman born in Africa to ever be chosen as a Playmate. She was named Playmate of the Year in 2009. Ida co-hosted the 2009 Playboy New Year's Eve Party in Miami, Florida. Ljungqvist has appeared as herself on the TV shows "The Girls Next Door" and "Last Call With Carson Daily." Moreover, she has also been featured in a couple of "Playboy" videos. Ida married Joshua R. Long in December, 2007; the couple filed for divorce in September, 2008. Ljungqvist has also worked for the non-profit global sustainability think tank Empowerment Works; she deals with fund raising and spreading public awareness about the organization.
- Hilda Martin was born in Tanzania. Hilda is an actor, known for Superman & Lois (2021), Imran and Alykhan (2022) and Murder by the Book.
- Hugo was born in Ndanda, Tanzania. From a very young age he was fascinated by the world of circus and entertainment. After his first appearance on stage in drama class, his passion for acting grew even stronger.
From 2000 to 2004 Hugo studied acting at the prestigious "University for Music and Performing Arts" in Stuttgart. After two years on stage he got the leading part in the German television series "Wege zum Glück", which turned out to be a major success. Next to his role in the prime-time movie "Sea of Death", Hugo has since played numerous roles in German feature films, series and on stage. Aside from acting, his repertoire includes dancing, singing and voice-acting, as well as judo and karate.
Hugo lives in Berlin. - Producer
- Director
- Writer
Timoth Conrad Kachumia is an award-winning film director, producer, screenwriter, and film editor known for Nothing Else (2020), Tena (2022), Sema (2018), Altitude (2017), and Mdundiko (2014).
Timoth started his filmmaking journey in 2007, before becoming a film director, Timoth worked as a film editor and specialized in graphics and special effects. In 2013 Timoth founded his first film production company called Timamu Movie Production and produce his first horror film called Home Village, then continued to make more interesting films like Mdundiko, Dogo Masai, and Single Zero.
In the year 2014, he won multiple international awards from the Silicon Valley African Film Festival in the United States of America for his three films (Dogo Masai, Mdundiko, and Single Zero). In June 2019 He won 'The best viewers choice and Best Director awards from The African Film Festival in Dallas, Texas, United States. In the year 2017, he joined Recording Radio Film Connection & CASA Schools in Los Angeles, California. Where he got a chance to work on the film Altitude (2017) featured famous Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren and American actress Denise Richards.
In the year 2020 Timoth moved to the United States and started his new chapter of filmmaking, In 2021 He founded his new film production company called Ticfy Inc., And in the year 2021, He managed to release his first film in the US, called Nothing Else, The mind-bending feature film about two strangers, who find themselves trapped in a room and stuck in a time loop. Nothing Else is now available worldwide on Amazon Prime.- Bayume Muhammed Hussein was born on February 22nd, 1904 in Dar es Salaam (now Tanzania), the son of an Askari soldier in the German "Schutztruppe". Working as a clerk from the age of ten, he served in the German colonial forces in World War I. He was severely wounded and spent some time in a POW camp in Nairobi.
After the war, he worked on several overseas steamships until he decided to sign off while in Germany in 1929 to fight for his pension, but without success. At least, his status as an Askari was recognized and he was naturalized as "Mohamed Husen". He worked alternately as a waiter and as a Swahili instructor, educating personnel for the Nazis' covert (yet short-lived) colonial ambitions. Additionally, he appeared in a number of films, mostly playing an Askari. In 1932, he married German Maria Schwadner; they had three children.
Already in 1933, all of the family had lost their German citizenship, and Husen's situation under state-promoted racism became more and more difficult. In 1935, he lost his job as a waiter at the intervention of fellow-workers who refused to work with him, and as a language instructor, he never advanced from his least-paid status although being a native speaker. Husen nevertheless tried to prove his loyalty by volunteering at the outbreak of World War II, but his proposal was turned down. In September 1941, he was accused of having an affair and a child with an "Aryan" woman from the set. There was no-one to step in for him, and there was no trial. His wife was forced to divorce him, and Husen was brought to Sachsenhausen concentration camp where he died on November 24th, 1944. His grave is on Berlin-Reinickendorf's Cemetery for the Victims of War and Violence.
His eldest son named Bodo died in an air raid, the fate of his divorced wife and of his other children is not known. - Maria Wasti was born on 14 August 1980 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. She is an actress, known for Moorat Aka Eunuch's Wedding (2004), Riyasat Aka Kingdom of Hearts (2005) and Ramchand Pakistani (2008).
- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
In 1986 aged 19, Bancil joined HAC theater. One of four professional British Asian theater companies at the time, HAC was the only one to be telling stories from a 2nd generation British Asian perspective. While most were writing about partition, or leaving their homeland, Parv Bancil was writing about his world, and tackling issues that were affecting British Asian youth, such as gang culture, drugs, crime and identity. From 1986 to 1989 he wrote four plays, 'Curse Of The Dead Dog'(1986), 'Hows Your Skull Does It Fit' (1987), 'Kings' (1988) and 'Bad Company' (1989). And he quickly gained a reputation as a dynamic, uncompromising and controversial writer, long before it was fashionable.
In 1991 he was the recipient of a Radio 4 Young Playwright Award for his play Nadir. By this point HAC had disbanded. But In 1993 Bancil wrote 'Ungrateful Dead' a play about a young Sikh mans descent into a world of gangs, violence and drugs. The play had a huge impact on audiences, and lead to a residency at The Royal Court Theatre. In 1995 Bancil wrote 'Papa Was A Bus Conducter'. A comedy satire based on a dysfunctional Asian family, it was his first play to receive a TimeOut Critics Choice. And it was the first of its kind to spark a trend for a whole spate of Asian comedy that followed over the next 10 years.
Bancils next two plays were to define him as one of the 'In Yer Face' writers that dominated the 90s. In 1997 he wrote 'Crazy Horse'. It follows Jas, a young man trying to deal with the death of his mother by loosing himself in a world of petty crime, until a tragic accident forces an estranged father and son to confront each other, but with sinister consequences. It was developed through 'Wild Lunch' with Sarah Kane and was directed by Vicky Featherstone, and received another Time Out Critics Choice. The following year Bancil then wrote 'Made In England', initially commissioned as a 15 minute piece by the 'Red Room' it was first performed as a full length play in October 1998. Set against the backdrop of the music industry and 'cool Britannia' it looked at the idea of trading your cultural identity for success. This play received Time Out Critics Choice twice.
'Bollywood Or Bust' (1999) a farcical comedy, and Recall (2000) a combined dance theatre piece with Darshan Singh Bhullar followed. The next few years saw Papa and Made In England re staged and Bancil also began to become known as a cultural commentator, writing articles for magazines and newspapers, and often contributing to radio and television debate. He also began to write and present TV documentary and venture into film and screen writing. 2007 saw another collaboration with Bhullar for Find Me Amongst The Black. And from 2008- 2009 he was on an attachment with The Soho Theatre. In 2010 he had two new stage plays 'Dead Leaves' and 'Rude Boy' ready to go into production.
From 1986-1997. he acted in many plays,was the founder member of One Nation Under A Groove Innit, (an umbrella organization that produced comedy). Was one half of a comic double act called The Khrai Twins, based on two bumbling drunken Southall gangsters, and a member of a comedy trio called the Sycophantic Sponge Bunch. He was also part of a spoof rock band called The Dead Jalebies. Formed in 1987. They toured nationally and opened for Asian Dub Foundation in 1991 at the Camden Underworld. Also supported the Voodoo Queens in 1993.- Rajika Puri was born on 14 September 1945 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is an actress, known for Longtime Companion (1989), Now and Again (1999) and The Great New Wonderful (2005).
- Actress
- Composer
- Producer
Elizabeth Michael Kimemeta was born on 16 April 1995 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is an actress and composer, known for Mapenzi Ya Mungu (2014), Ni Noma (2016) and Bongoland II: There Is No Place Like Home (2008).- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Manish Patel is one of the leading lights in Britain's independent cinema movement. His films have been selected for the Cannes Film Festival, Portobello Film Festival, Mumbai Film Festival, Bite The Mango Film Festival and more. Won 'Best Film Award' for 'Cash and Curry' at Portobello Film Festival. He is also a television documentary film maker specializing in Healthcare and Business related themes. Several of his documentaries have been screened on Sky and Freesat in the UK and Ireland.- Editor
- Writer
Slaven Zecevic was born in 1967 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is an editor and writer, known for Snivaj, zlato moje (2005), Hush... (2013) and Koko and the Ghosts (2011).- Actress
Herieth Paul moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada at the age of 14 due to her mother being a diplomat. She was discovered at an open casting call in 2009 and made her debut at the spring Christian Siriano show in September 2010. She debuted at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2016.- Juma was born on 10 October 1943 in Zanzibar, Tanzania. He was an actor, known for Odongo: An Adventure of the African Frontier (1956), Safari (1956) and Fury at Smugglers' Bay (1961). He died in May 1989 in London, England, UK.