South African actor, Ken Gampu, dies in Vosloorus

Date: 4 Nov 2003
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

South African actor, Ken Gampu, dies in Vosloorus

At the time of his death at the age of 74, Ken Gampu was a well known veteran actor in South Africa. Gampu was the first South African actor to act in Hollywood films, having spent two years in the United States. His first acting job was a role in the play No good Friday by Athol Fugard. Gampu was born in Germiston in 1929. Before entering the the world of performing arts, he had worked as a physical trainer, a salesman ,an interpreter and a policeman. After he retired, he lived a modest life on the East Rand. He died on 4 November 2003.

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How we know this

01Bergan R. (2003) Ken Gampu -Black film star who inspired a generation in apartheid South Africa from The Guardian (19 November 2003)[online] Available at: www.theguardian.com [Accessed on 26 September 2013]
02IMDB Ken Gampu (1929–2003) [online] Available at: www.imdb.com [Accessed on 26 September 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, November 1). South African actor, Ken Gampu, dies in Vosloorus. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096587

South African History Online (2013) 'South African actor, Ken Gampu, dies in Vosloorus', South African History Online, 1 November. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096587 (Accessed: 29 August 2026).

South African History Online, South African actor, Ken Gampu, dies in Vosloorus [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096587, (accessed 29 August 2026).

"South African actor, Ken Gampu, dies in Vosloorus." South African History Online, 1 Nov. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096587. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "South African actor, Ken Gampu, dies in Vosloorus." South African History Online. November 1, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096587.