Owiso Odera

Owiso Odera (March 1974 - November 3, 2016) was a Sudanese-born Kenyan actor.[1] He was perhaps best known for his role as Papa Tunde in the television series The Originals.[2][3][4] In 2015, Odera was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play for his performance in Katori Hall's play Our Lady of Kibeho at the Signature Theatre.[5]

Owiso Odera
Born(1974-03-00)March , 1974
Khartoum, Sudan
DiedNovember 3, 2016(2016-11-03) (aged 42)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Spouse(s)Nicole Comp

Early life and education

Odera was born in Khartoum, Sudan to Kenyan mother Millicent Obaso and father Henry Odera Oruka on March 1974.[1]

He attended St. Mary's School, Nairobi, graduating in the class of 1991.[1] Odera earned a scholarship to study computer science at Earlham College in 1992.[1] He graduated from Earlham in 1996.[5] He also earned a master's degree in Fine Arts at the University of California, San Diego.[1][6][7] He graduated from UCSD in 2005.[1]

Career

On stage he has performed in Katori Hall's Our Lady of Kibeho at the Signature Theatre, Mat Smart's Samuel J. and K. with Justin Long at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Jay O. Sanders' Unexplored Interior at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.[8]

He has appeared in the television series The Originals, The Good Wife and Madam Secretary.[8] Other television series he has appeared in include Unforgettable, Three Rivers, FlashForward, Minority Report, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Unit, Numbers, The Millers and Blue Bloods.[1] He also appeared in the series Dirt.[9]

Odera also appeared in the 2007 feature film Relative Obscurity with Larisa Oleynik.[10]

Personal life and death

Odera was married to Nicole Comp.[1] At the time of his death, Odera was residing in Santa Monica, California.[9][11]

Odera died on November 3, 2016 after collapsing on stage during a rehearsal of Dominique Morisseau's Detroit '67 at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky.[5][9] He was 42.[1] His family did not reveal the cause of his death.[9]

He is survived by his wife, Nicole, his sisters Sheila and Sharon and his half-brothers Peter and Ronnie.[12]

References
  1. Rajula, Thomas (14 July 2018). "Remembering Owiso Odera, who blazed the trail for Lupita and Gathegi". Daily Nation. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. "TV & Stage Actor Owiso Odera Dies After Collapsing Onstage During Play Rehearsal". BroadwayWorld. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  3. Nguyen, Alexander (7 November 2016). "Santa Monica-Based Actor Odera Owiso Died After Collapsing During Rehearsal in Kentucky". Patch Media. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. Mabel, Winnie. "The Originals' Papa Tunde dead after collapsing on set". Tuko. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  5. Kramer, Elizabeth (7 November 2016). "'Detroit '67' canceled after actor's death". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  6. George Orido (6 November 2016). "Kenyan Hollywood star dies in the US". The Standard (Kenya). Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  7. Hebert, James (16 March 2011). "Casting update: Globe replaces two actors". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  8. Clement, Olivia (8 November 2016). "Actors Theatre of Louisville Cancels Show After Company Member Dies". Playbill. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  9. Pedersen, Erik (7 November 2016). "Owiso Odera Dies: Kenyan Actor From 'The Originals' & 'Dirt' Was 43". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  10. Hanft, Lila (22 March 2007). "'Relative Obscurity' pushes local filmmaker into the limelight". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  11. Pedersen, Erik (7 November 2016). "Owiso Odera Dies: Kenyan Actor From 'The Originals' & 'Dirt' Was 43". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  12. "The Originals Actor Owiso Odera Dies After Collapsing On Stage". Contactmusic.com. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
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