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Ji-Tu Cumbuka

Ji-Tu Cumbuka

Actor · Born March 4, 1942 (84) · Montgomery County, Alabama, USA

Ji-Tu Cumbuka is one of the many U.S. African actors who overcame walls of adversity in the 60s. Born in Montgomery County, Alabama on March fourth, 1940 in an era of oppression, Ji-Tu did not let social norms hold him back from what he loved. Opportunities were slim; a U.S. African actor of the 40s and 50s held roles as house maids or were confined to the parody roles of minstrel shows. Being born in a society of black and white, Ji-Tu defined what the basis of the Civil Rights Movement was. He saw his first movie "Shane" at the age of twelve years old which stimulated his desire to become an actor. Receiving discouragement from all sides, from teachers laughing at his aspirations and suggesting he be more realistic to his father, a Baptist minister who believed acting was "the devil's work". Inspired by his mother who believed he could achieve any dream with God's help, he left home and moved to New York. After several difficult years he joined the Army where he played football and ran track. Ji-Tu made All-Army in both sports. He was offered many college scholarships, but chose to attend Texas Southern University. After Texas Southern he felt it was time to move to California to continue to pursue his acting dreams. While working as an actor, Ji-Tu continued his education earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Masters Degree in Cinematography. After three years of attending acting classes and acting in community plays and workshops he landed his first top role in the movie "Uptight" directed by the late director Jules Dassin. Cumbuka is famed for roles in movies such as the epic film "Roots", "Harlem Nights", "Brewster's Millions", "Mandingo" and "Bound for Glory", as well as minor appearances in thirty other films. In television, Cumbuka is acclaimed for roles in major shows as "Knots Landing", "The A-Team", "The Dukes of Hazard", "Walker Texas Ranger" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation". In total Ji-Tu has appeared in over a hundred films and television series. Ji-Tu Cumbuka's journey is a reflection of fiery passion and strength that will burn everlasting. He is the author of several screenplays and is presently pursuing opportunities as a writer, producer and director.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 4, 1942 (84)
From
Montgomery County, Alabama, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 66 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 6% in 30 days

What are Ji-Tu Cumbuka's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
27%
Self
27%
Survival
15%
Society
13%
Power
7%
Morality
6%
Ideas
5%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 3 · Dark 6

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 5

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
6
Absurd
3
Bittersweet
2
Joyful
2
Other
10

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ji-Tu Cumbuka's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ji-Tu Cumbuka's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

66 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page.

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Hot Dog Vendor

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dexter

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Midnight Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Reginald Brown

  • Harlem Nights(1989)

    as Toothless Gambler

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Hardball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alien Nation(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrew Craig

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Caged in Paradiso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Josh

  • Glitch! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Mookie

  • Moving(1988)

    as Edwards

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Bronx Zoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Outrageous Fortune(1987)

    as Cab Driver

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Amen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Out of Bounds(1986)

    as Lemar

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jerry Stone

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Moorish Warrior / Rider

  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Volunteers(1985)

    as Cicero

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Covenant(1985)

    as Duboff

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Brewster's Millions(1985)

    as Melvin

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Doin' Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Bernie Feldstein

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Calder Williams

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Homer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Bachelor Party(1984)

    as Alley Pimp

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Hardcastle and McCormick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Giles

  • The Nightingale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Emperor's Bodyguard

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Bubba · as Gravedigger

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Yogi

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Trucker

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Emperor's Bodyguard

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Marty

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Death Ray 2000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Torque

  • The Jericho Mile(1979)

    as Brother Lateef

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Security Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Flesh & Blood(1979)

    as Woody Shaw

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Flesh & Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Woody Shaw

  • Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde(1976)

    as Lt. Jackson

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • A Man Called Sloane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Ebony, Ivory and Jade(1979)

    as Thurston

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Walk Proud(1979)

    as Sgt. Gannett

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mandrake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Lothar

  • Last of the Good Guys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Officer Marv Pulaski (uncredited)

  • Angela(1977)

    as Hogan's Henchman

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Young Dan'l Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 8 episodes · as Hawk

  • Fun with Dick and Jane(1977)

    as Guard

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Roots(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Wrestler

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Bound for Glory(1976)

    as Slim Snedeger

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Mandingo(1975)

    as Cicero

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Blue Knight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Leroy 'Tank' Whittier

  • S.W.A.T.(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Lost in the Stars(1974)

    as Johannes

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Soldier

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Snoop Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Saunders

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as John 'Blue' Andrews · as Slade

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Maurie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Oscar Robertson

  • Trader Horn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Orange Stripe

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Up the Sandbox(1972)

    as Black Captain

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Omar

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Lafayette Delacroix

  • Blacula(1972)

    as Skillet

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Sanford and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Brian's Song(1971)

    as Roommate

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Change of Habit(1969)

    as Hawk

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Uptight(1968)

    as Rick

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Obbie

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucas Hunter

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 66 titles from 1964 to 2000; peak year 1986.

Biggest box office

Outrageous Fortune (1987)

$53M worldwide

Highest rated

Brian's Song (1971)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

Mandingo (1975)

Film career

19642000

Peak 1986 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting66 of 66: 66 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1960s4 · acting1970s30 · acting1980s29 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
6979

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ji-Tu Cumbuka's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Covenant (1985)

75th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Brian's Song (1971)

Midcredits 89th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ji-Tu Cumbuka's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 35 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 66 · intenseMedian of all films: 36

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Ji-Tu Cumbuka work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ji-Tu Cumbuka's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William Crain shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors