Mwako Cumbuka
| Mwako Cumbuka | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1, 1950 United States |
| Other names | Mwaka Cumbaka, Mwaka Cumbuka |
| 💼 Occupation | Actor |
| 📆 Years active | 1969–1977, 2021 |
| Known for | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Coffy |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Mwako Cumbuka (born September 1, 1950) is an American actor, best known for his supporting roles in 1970s films and television, particularly as Warren in the Academy Award‑winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and as Grover in the blaxploitation classic Coffy (1973).[1][2]
Early life
Mwako Cumbuka was born on September 1, 1950, in the United States.[1] He stands 1.73 metres (5 ft 8 in) tall.[1] In some early credits, he is listed under the alternate spellings Mwaka Cumbaka or Mwaka Cumbuka.[1][3]
Career
Cumbuka began his acting career in the late 1960s with uncredited appearances in films such as Cactus Flower (1969) and Halls of Anger (1970).[4] On television, he made early guest appearances on The Most Deadly Game (1970) and McCloud (1970).[4] From 1969 to 1972, he appeared in five episodes of the high school comedy‑drama Room 222 in various roles, credited as Ernie, Frank, Fred, and Eddie Simpson.[4][5] In 1971, he appeared in two episodes of The Bill Cosby Show under the name Mwaka Cumbaka.[4]
Cumbuka's most prolific period was between 1973 and 1977, during which he appeared in numerous films and television series.[4] His film roles during this period included Grover in Coffy (1973), the boyfriend in Hit! (1973), and Strokes McGee in Together Brothers (1974).[4] He also appeared in the television movie Firehouse (1973) as Clarence.[4]
In 1975, Cumbuka portrayed Warren, one of the night hospital aides, in Miloš Forman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.[4] He continued to work steadily on television, guest starring on popular crime dramas such as Kojak (1974), Police Woman (1974, two episodes), Cannon (1976), and The Streets of San Francisco (1976).[4][6] His final credited television appearance of the 1970s was as Gang Leader #1 in an episode of Future Cop in 1977.[4]
Cumbuka also appeared in the films Passing Through (1977) and the television movie Kill Me If You Can (1977) as 1st Clerk.[4]
After a hiatus of more than four decades, Cumbuka returned to acting with a role in the film Dark Harvest in 2021.[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Cactus Flower | Man Dancing in Club | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Halls of Anger | Student | Uncredited |
| 1973 | Coffy | Grover | |
| 1973 | Hit! | Boyfriend | |
| 1973 | Frasier, the Sensuous Lion | ||
| 1973 | Firehouse | Clarence | Television film |
| 1974 | Together Brothers | Strokes McGee | |
| 1975 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | Warren | |
| 1977 | Passing Through | Ajaes | |
| 1977 | Kill Me If You Can | 1st Clerk | Television film |
| 2021 | Dark Harvest |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969–1972 | Room 222 | Ernie / Frank / Fred / Eddie Simpson | 5 episodes |
| 1970 | The Most Deadly Game | Freddie | 1 episode (credited as Mwaka Cumbuka) |
| 1970 | McCloud | Royal | 1 episode (credited as Mwaka Cumbuka) |
| 1971 | The Bill Cosby Show | Student #1 / First Man | 2 episodes (credited as Mwaka Cumbaka) |
| 1972 | The Paul Lynde Show | Harley | 1 episode |
| 1972 | Temperatures Rising | Mudcat | 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Partridge Family | Jerry | 1 episode |
| 1973 | Police Story | Willy | 1 episode |
| 1974 | Kojak | Jonas | 1 episode |
| 1974 | Police Woman | Willie / Willy | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | Cannon | Cpl. Ted Powell | 1 episode |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Little Joe | 1 episode |
| 1977 | Future Cop | Gang Leader #1 | 1 episode |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Mwako Cumbuka". IMDb. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ↑ "Coffy". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ↑ "Mwako Cumbuka". AllMovie. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 "Mwako Cumbuka – Full Credits". IMDb. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ↑ "Room 222". IMDb. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
- ↑ "Mwako Cumbuka". Metacritic. Retrieved 2026-04-20.
External links
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