Remembering Owiso Odera, who blazed the trail for Lupita and Gathegi
Kenya actor Owiso Odera. The Hollywood-based actor died on November 3, 2016 in the USA. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Before Eddie Gathegi and Lupita Nyong'o became prominent names on both the silver screen and television, however, there was Owiso Odera
- Owiso featured in films and television series such as The Originals, Madam Secretary, Unforgettable, Three Rivers, The Thirst: Blood wars, Flash forward, Minority Report, The Good Wife, NCIS-Los Angeles, The Unit, Numb3rs, The Millers and Blue Bloods.
- Owiso's most prominent role was that of Papa Tunde, a dark witch and a former leader of the French Quarter Coven in early 20th century New Orleans, in the television series The Originals.
- He also performed plays.
A fortnight ago, Lupita Nyong’o was named among the list of entertainers whose names will be on the stars on Hollywood Boulevard come next year. Lupita, the daughter of Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o, alongside Eddie Gathegi, are among actors with Kenyan roots who are flying high our nation’s name in Hollywood.
Before Eddie and Lupita became prominent names on both the silver screen and television, however, there was Owiso Odera.
Owiso's most prominent role was that of Papa Tunde, a dark witch and a former leader of the French Quarter Coven in early 20th century New Orleans, in the television seriesThe Originals.
Owiso was pronounced dead by the first responders who tried to resuscitate him after he collapsed while rehearsing on stage for a play calledDetroit ’67on November 3, 2016. The play was subsequently cancelled following his death.
Owiso Odera was born in Khartoum, Sudan, to the late philosopher Prof Henry Odera Oruka and Millicent Obaso in March 1974.
Though born in Sudan, he grew up in Kenya and attended Visa Oshwal Primary, Westlands. He later joined St Mary’s School, Nairobi, finishing with the class of 1991. He attended the World College in Swaziland for his International Baccalaureate after that.
He then got a scholarship to study computer science at the prestigious Earlham College in Indiana, USA in 1992. After working for some years in New York, where he met the love of his life and later wife, Nicole Comp, he decided to move to California in 2002.
He first settled in San Diego and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Fine Arts at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). He was offered a scholarship and granted outstanding alumnus status by the prestigious UCSD and he received the Grace Kelly Award in Drama.
While at UCSD, Owiso applied for and became the first recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation’s George C. Wolfe Theatre Award in 2004. He graduated from UCSD in 2005.
MANY ROLES
Owiso featured in films and television series such asThe Originals, Madam Secretary, Unforgettable, Three Rivers, The Thirst: Blood wars, Flash forward, Minority Report, The Good Wife, NCIS-Los Angeles, The Unit, Numb3rs, The MillersandBlue Bloods.
Off-Broadway, he appeared in the world premiere of Katori Hall’sOur Lady of Kibeho, directed by Michael Greif, for which he was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding lead role performance. He was also part of the cast of the US premiere ofThe Overwhelmingby Roundabout Theatre Company. The play was ranked fourth byTime Magazineas one of the top 10 new plays of 2007. That year, he also played Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet at the Public Theatre.
Owiso also had a starring role in the world premiere ofSamuel J and Kat the Williamstown Theater; the title role inOthelloat Folger Theater; and August Wilson’sTwo Trains Runningat Two River Theater.
Similarly, he played major roles in thePiano Lessonat the McCarter Theater,Gem of the Oceanat ACT in San Francisco;Groundswel,Titus Andronicus, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Merry Wives of Windsorat the Old Globe in San Diego,Love of Three Orangesat La Jolia Playhouse andMacbethat Commonwealth Shakespeare Company in Boston.
“Owiso was kind and had a positive spirit, exuding authority, love and humour. He was thoughtful and observant, always generous, he listened and was always ready with a warm smile.
"He had such a high integrity that he never failed or defaulted if he promised to call or to attend to something or someone at a particular time; simply reliable,” said a source close to the family.
“Owiso was an accomplished and talented actor with an impressive list of theatre, television and film credits,” Les Waters and Kevin E. Moore of Actors Theatre said in a statement following his death. “However, he was much more than just a colleague. Owiso was a dear friend to many and will be immensely missed by the performing arts communities all across the country.”
Opposition leader, Raila Odinga, had also sent his condolences to the family, saying as a friend of Henry Odera Oruka, he watched young Owiso grow up. Who is to say where he would have been today, had death not robbed us of this great Kenyan export. Owiso is survived by his wife Nicole, siblings Ronnie, Sheila, Sharon, Milly and Peter. He was 42.
