Nowadays, Kenyan actors and actresses are showing off their talents in the United States’ cinema, popularly called Hollywood, earning a spotlight as stars in the industry.
People browse the internet 24 hours, searching the Hollywood movie stars from African countries like Kenya. If you’re one of those, you’re at the right place now.
Read through this article post to find out who’re the top Kenyan movie stars in Hollywood.
1. Benjamin Ochieng’
Benjamin Alfred Onyango Ochieng, popularly called Benji, is one of the Kenyan most male versatile actors in Hollywood, born in Ofafa, Jericho. He acquired his primary and secondary education there in Jericho.
In pursuit of a different educational career, he moved to California, United States, working in the music industry and acting in Hollywood. Apart from being an actor, Benji is also a Hollywood writer, producer, and sound editor.
Benji is an eloquent speaker who has mastery over the Swahili language, making him go for Swahili’s acting role. He has been particularly active in the Hollywood industry since 1999 till date.
The renowned Kenyan Hollywood movie star is famous for his roles in his best-selling films, which include Trusts and Estate (2013), Beautifully Broken (2017), God’s Not Dead (2014), and Tears of the Sun (2003).
2. Edi Gathegi
Indisputably, Edi Mue Gathegi is among the Kenyan actors having the most features in Hollywood movies, exceptional talent, and receiving the highest pay.
Gathegi was born in his country home, Kenya 10th of March 1979, but he grew up in California, the USA, where he earlier pursued a career in basketball.
However, due to an excessive knee injury, she switched to study acting at New York City University, where she obtained a certificate.
Edi turned a renowned cast in various celebrated TV series and movies after her debut in the “Crank” of 2016, where she acted as Haitian Cabbie.
She has played a significant character in most of the best-selling Hollywood moves that put him in the spotlight; they include The Blacklist: Lincoln Heights, Redemption, Nikita; The Blacklist, Veronica Mars, StartUp, Twilight, Into the Badlands, CSI: Miami, and X Men: First Class.
3. Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Amondi Nyong’o was into an upper-class family of a Kenyan Politician in Mexico, raised in Kenya from her early life but attended Hampshire College, United States, where she acquired her BSc in theatre and film studies.
She started her career as an assistant for Hollywood producers, debuted in 2008 in a short film titled “East River,” afterward returned to Kenya to star in TV drama series MTV Shuga or Shuga, in a short form.
In 2018, this movie star gained recognition in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, announced by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce as one of the honourees out of 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars in the film category.
She’s famous for her prominent roles in many award-winning Hollywood movies, particularly for the one in “12 Years a Slave of 2013”, a historical film that gained her the coveted Oscar award.
Apart from East River, some of the exciting movies she has featured in are Queen of Katwe (2016), Black Panther (2018), Star Wars sequel trilogy (2015-2019), and Us (2019).
4. Christine Wawira
Locally, Christine Wawira Njagi might not be a famous actress in Nairobi, Kenya, where she was bone, but she’s a Hollywood star in the United States. The latter earns a better living through her proficient acting profession.
She was a model previously called “Naila Pierce”; born on the 20th of December 1987 in Kenya, later moved to London with her family in 1994, discovered her talent in filmmaking, joined Hollywood, and became a famous actress.
As long as the Hollywood movies go, Christine has starred in 13 prominent films where she played essential roles on Night Call, Flash, East African Girl, Blacklisted, and Sign of the Dragon, making her outstanding.
5. Mary Oyaya
The Hollywood movie star Mary Oyaya is a model and globetrotter born in Mombasa, Kenya but has lived in several international countries, including Sweden, Australia, and Canada.
She’s best known for the role she played as Jedi Master Luminara Unduli (2002) in two best-selling American blockbuster films, “Star Wars” and Episode II, titled “Attack of the Clones (2002)”.
Oyaya has also made remarkable performances in Farscape (1999) that got her rounds of applause. Her other significant attributes include featuring in various sports advertisements and Hewlett Packard Bell and starring in TV commercials for Telstra Communications
6. Lenny Juma
Lenny Juma is another Kenyan most outstanding actor of his time and age born in Kenya. He’s among the oldest African Hollywood actors, and he has acquired an insuring resume in his home movies and their foreign counterparts.
Lenny, who started pursuing his career in 1971, has become an enduring and iconic figure in Hollywood.
He has featured in several movies that have gained recognition with notable roles, and they include; The Constant Gardener (2005), Arthur and the Invisibles (2006), Tomb Raider II, “Cradle of Life” (2003), “National Geographic Banged Up Abroad” and “Indiana Jones Chronicles.”
7. Kiran Shah
Another Kenyan legend who made it to the Hollywood movie is Kiran Shah. He was born on the 28th of September 1956 in the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi. However, at the age of 12, he relocated to India with his family to further his career in filmmaking.
He later made it to Hollywood, where he featured in many blockbuster films, which include the 1983 Return of the Jedi, Raiders of the Lost Ark of 1981, The Sign of Four (1987), Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Aliens (1986), The Dark Crystal (1982), Braveheart (1995), Legend (1985) and Bullseye! (1990).
He mainly played in his movies is the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Titanic of 1997 is one of his most renowned movies, where he featured as a stunt double to all the kids that starred in the movie.
8. Charles Gitonga Maina
The 45-year-old talented actor is perhaps one of the versatile Hollywood actors of his time and a true son of Kenya, born in 1976 in Buru Buru, Nairobi.
Some of his award-winning Hollywood movies are “SeaQuest 2032” in 1993 and “The Air up There” in 1994.
In the latterly one, he played as the principal character Saleh – a basketball player who directs his squad to win.
Naturally, he’s a talented stunt basketball player, and the talent famed him after playing the role of Selah in the 1994 Hollywood movie.
Who is the most famous actor in Kenya?
Well, it’s not easy to say because that may bring up debate among them, but according to the search result, Benjamin Ochieng’ is a big name in the list of most famous Kenyan actors.
Who is the No one superstar in Hollywood?
Samuel Leroy Jackson is generally the highly famous and successful Hollywood actor of his generation.
Who is the most famed celebrity in Kenya?
Wangari Maathai is an activist and celebrity in Kenya prominent for her unrelenting effort for environmental conservation, human rights, and democracy.
The most famous movie star in Hollywood is who?
Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957) is the male legend, while Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) is the female legend with excellent performances in classical Hollywood cinema movies.
Conclusion
Readers might be wondering why some of the Kenyan Hollywood actors they know didn’t appear in this article. Although many Hollywood actors from Kenya, our list includes Kenyan movie stars with notable credits for their roles in Hollywood.
