Sabu
Biography
Sabu was an Indian and American actor who, from the 1930s into the 1940s, became one of the few performers born in India to win an international following on screen. Born in Mysore in 1924 to an elephant keeper, he was 13 when the documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty spotted him and gave him the part of an elephant driver in Elephant Boy (1937). Alexander Korda then had The Drum written as a starring vehicle for him. His most famous part was Abu in The Thief of Bagdad (1940), and he played Mowgli in Jungle Book (1942). At Universal Pictures he appeared opposite Maria Montez and Jon Hall in Arabian Nights (1942), White Savage (1943) and Cobra Woman (1944). After World War II his career slowed, though he had roles in Black Narcissus (1947) and The End of the River (1947), and he returned to Hollywood in 1963 with Rampage. He died that same year.
39years old at death
- Born Mysore
- Died Chatsworth
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 7 years1940 to 1947
Every film, newest first
- 1947Black NarcissusIMDb rating 7.7
- 1944Cobra WomanIMDb rating 5.7
- 1942Arabian NightsIMDb rating 6.1
- 1942Jungle BookIMDb rating 6.7
- 1940The Thief of BagdadIMDb rating 7.4
Genres
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First role
At 13, Sabu was found by Robert Flaherty, a documentary filmmaker. Flaherty gave him the part of an elephant driver in Elephant Boy, a 1937 British film based on a Rudyard Kipling story.
A role that slipped away
Sabu was considered for Birju in Mehboob Khan's 1957 film Mother India, which would have been his Hindi film debut. He was denied a work permit, and Sunil Dutt got the role instead.
A change of course
After he became an American citizen in 1944, Sabu enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He served on B-24 Liberators as a ball-turret gunner and tail gunner, flew several dozen missions in the Pacific, and received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Sabu movies on Netflix
Most often with
Michael Powell directed two of these films. Five actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
John Qualen's page
Edgar Barrier's page
Robert Greig's page
Jon Hall's page
Maria Montez's page
All films by Michael Powell
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Distinguished Flying Cross | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.