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Ken Gampu

Ken Gampu

Actor · Died November 4, 2003, aged 74 · Germiston, South Africa

Ken Gampu (born 28 August 1929 in Germiston, South Africa; died 4 November 2003 in Vosloorus, South Africa) was a South African actor. Before he began his career, Gampu was a physical training instructor, salesman, interpreter and police officer. His first acting job was in Athol Fugard's play, No Good Friday (1958). His big break came in the 1965 film Dingaka by Jamie Uys. The same year, he had a significant role in Cornel Wilde's African adventure film, The Naked Prey. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ken Gampu, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 28, 1929
Died
November 4, 2003 (aged 74)
From
Germiston, South Africa
Works as
Actor
Titles
14 on MovieCove · 46 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 32% in 30 days

What are Ken Gampu's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 8th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action 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
Survival
22%
Morality
21%
Society
18%
Power
17%
Self
8%
Bonds
8%
Ideas
6%
Survival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 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 2 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 4

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 7 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 7
Ally
2 of 7
Mentor
2 of 7
Hero
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Thrilling
5
Absurd
3
Warm
1
Dread
1
Other
6

How their films linger

Fun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet3
  • 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 Ken Gampu's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 14 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken Gampu'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

46 credits, 14 with a MovieCove page.

  • Askari(2001)

    as Ndhlovu

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • A Reasonable Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Headman

  • Black Velvet Band (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Witch Doctor

  • Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as The Elder

  • Aristotle's Plot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Policeman

  • Cyborg Cop II(1994)

    as Police Chief

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Daisy de Melker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Chief Mpane

  • Lethal Ninja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ndumo

  • Oh Schucks...! Here Comes UNTAG (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Tjicombo

  • American Ninja 4: The Annihilation(1990)

    as Dr. Tamba

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Enemy Unseen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Malanga

  • Quiet Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as President Zalabok

  • Act of Piracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Herb Bunting

  • Bush Shrink (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Gapu

  • Operation Hit Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Ken

  • Scavengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Dr. Nduma

  • City of Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Black Leader

  • John Ross: An African Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Jacob

  • Jake Speed(1986)

    as Joe Smith

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • King Solomon's Mines(1985)

    as Umbopo

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Van der Merwe PI (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Wiley

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

    Show 3 episodes · as Morenga

  • Claws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Moses

  • Bullet on the Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Joe Bullet

  • The Chain Gang Killings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Khumalo

  • Tuxedo Warrior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Inspector Nderi

  • Kill and Kill Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Gorilla

  • The Gods Must Be Crazy(1980)

    as President

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Flashpoint Africa(1980)

    as Matari

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Game for Vultures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Sixpence

  • King Solomon's Treasure(1979)

    as Umpslopogas

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Zulu Dawn(1979)

    as Mantshonga

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Geese(1978)

    as Alexander

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Slavers(1977)

    as Musulna

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Target of an Assassin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Minister Manga

  • Les Diamants du Président (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 6 episodes · as Colonel Mamba

  • Mister Deathman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Sue

  • Black Trash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Steve Chaka

  • Forever Young, Forever Free (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Thomas Luke

  • The Virgin Goddess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Gampu

  • Joe Bullet(1973)

    as Joe Bullet

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Rogue Lion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Mashoda

  • All the Way to Paris(1966)

    as Sudanese Delegate at Conference

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Naked Prey(1965)

    as Leader of the warriors

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Dingaka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Ntuku Makwena

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

    Show 1 episode · as Kamba

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 46 titles from 1964 to 2001; peak year 1979.

Biggest box office

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

$30M worldwide

Highest rated

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

Midcredits 88th

Film career

19642001

Peak 1979 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting46 of 46: 46 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score17th

By decade

1960s4 · acting1970s13 · acting1980s19 · acting1990s9 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

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.

How do Ken Gampu's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 17th percentile, the median of all 14; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 17th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

17thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

14thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 14 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 14 titles are Mixed.

  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Askari (2001)

86th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

Midcredits 88th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 47/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 65, detractors 24. 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 Ken Gampu's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Ken Gampu work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken Gampu's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; H. Rider Haggard shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Producers