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IMDbPro

John Kani(I)

  • Writer
  • Actor
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
John Kani at an event for Black Panther (2018)
Watch The Lion King
Play trailer1:49
The Lion King (2019)
9 Videos
14 Photos
John Kani was born on 30 November 1942 in New Brighton, South Africa. He is a writer and actor, known for Black Panther (2018), Captain America: Civil War (2016) and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996).
BornNovember 30, 1942
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornNovember 30, 1942
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 1 nomination total

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    Known for

    Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Martin Freeman, Michael B. Jordan, Andy Serkis, Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o, Daniel Kaluuya, and Letitia Wright in Black Panther (2018)
    Black Panther
    7.3
    Movie
    • T'Chaka
    • 2018
    Don Cheadle, Robert Downey Jr., Paul Bettany, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, and Sebastian Stan in Captain America: Civil War (2016)
    Captain America: Civil War
    7.8
    Movie
    • King T'Chaka
    • 2016
    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    The Ghost and the Darkness
    6.8
    Movie
    • Samuel
    • 1996
    Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler in Coriolanus (2011)
    Coriolanus
    6.1
    Movie
    • General Cominius
    • 2011

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Writer

    • Baby Cele, John Kani, Ernest Ndlovu, Nakedi Ribane, Dumisani Mbebe, Samkelo Ndlovu, and Nompilo Gwala in iNkaba (2012)
      iNkaba
      TV Series
      • created by
      • story developed by
      • original concept by ...
      • 2012
    • Nothing But the Truth (2008)
      Nothing But the Truth
      7.4
      • original play
      • writer
      • 2008
    • BBC2 Playhouse (1973)
      BBC2 Playhouse
      6.8
      TV Series
      • deviser
      • 1974

    Actor

    • I am Khama!
      • King Khama III (voice)
      • In Development
    • John Kani, Seth Rogen, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Billy Eichner, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Blue Ivy Carter, and Aaron Pierre in Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
      Mufasa: The Lion King
      6.7
      • Rafiki (voice)
      • 2024
    • Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in Murder Mystery 2 (2023)
      Murder Mystery 2
      5.7
      • Colonel Ulenga
      • 2023
    • Dolph Lundgren, John Kani, Matthew Rhys, Seal, J.K. Simmons, Patrick Warburton, Camille Mana, Kristen Schaal, Sharlto Copley, and Jessie T. Usher in Seal Team (2021)
      Seal Team
      5.6
      • Brick (voice)
      • 2021
    • What If...? (2021)
      What If...?
      7.3
      TV Series
      • T'Chaka (voice)
      • 2021
    • James Earl Jones, Kathy Griffin, Alfre Woodard, Scott Adsit, Carlos Alazraqui, Kristen Alderson, Kristen Ariza, Michael Beattie, Bob Bergen, Sebastian Cavazza, Cedric The Entertainer, Dane Cook, Walt Dohrn, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Penny Johnson Jerald, John Kani, Florence Kasumba, Beyoncé, Phil LaMarr, Danny Mann, Mike Mitchell, Don Rickles, Seth Rogen, Amy Sedaris, Peter Sohn, Aron Warner, Christopher Knights, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, Will.i.am, Kristen DeLuca, Christopher Lee Parson, J. Lee, Donald Glover, Eric André, Billy Eichner, Teri Reeves, Ryan Potter, Chance the Rapper, Kristen Phaneuf, JD McCrary, Josh McCrary, and Shahadi Wright Joseph in The Lion King (2019)
      The Lion King
      6.8
      • Rafiki (voice)
      • 2019
    • Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in Murder Mystery (2019)
      Murder Mystery
      6.1
      • Colonel Ulenga
      • 2019
    • Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Martin Freeman, Michael B. Jordan, Andy Serkis, Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o, Daniel Kaluuya, and Letitia Wright in Black Panther (2018)
      Black Panther
      7.3
      • T'Chaka
      • 2018
    • The Suit (2016)
      The Suit
      8.5
      Short
      • Mr. Maphikela
      • 2016
    • Don Cheadle, Robert Downey Jr., Paul Bettany, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, and Sebastian Stan in Captain America: Civil War (2016)
      Captain America: Civil War
      7.8
      • King T'Chaka
      • 2016
    • Kenneth Branagh in Wallander (2008)
      Wallander
      7.8
      TV Series
      • Max Khulu
      • 2015
    • Jail Caesar (2012)
      Jail Caesar
      7.8
      • Marius
      • 2012
    • Baby Cele, John Kani, Ernest Ndlovu, Nakedi Ribane, Dumisani Mbebe, Samkelo Ndlovu, and Nompilo Gwala in iNkaba (2012)
      iNkaba
      TV Series
      • 2012
    • POSTER
      How to Steal 2 Million
      5.5
      • Julius Twala Snr.
      • 2011
    • Jagathy Sreekumar and Jayasurya in Janapriyan (2011)
      Janapriyan
      6.4
      • 2011
    • Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler in Coriolanus (2011)
      Coriolanus
      6.1
      • General Cominius
      • 2011

    Producer

    • Baby Cele, John Kani, Ernest Ndlovu, Nakedi Ribane, Dumisani Mbebe, Samkelo Ndlovu, and Nompilo Gwala in iNkaba (2012)
      iNkaba
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2012
    • Nothing But the Truth (2008)
      Nothing But the Truth
      7.4
      • producer
      • 2008

    Videos9

    The Lion King
    Trailer 1:49
    The Lion King
    White Lion
    Trailer 1:47
    White Lion
    White Lion
    Trailer 1:47
    White Lion
    The Ghost and the Darkness
    Trailer 0:31
    The Ghost and the Darkness
    Sarafina!
    Trailer 2:06
    Sarafina!
    Endgame (2009)
    Trailer 2:23
    Endgame (2009)
    The Bird Can't Fly
    Trailer 1:32
    The Bird Can't Fly

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Alternative name
      • Dr. John Kani
    • Born
      • November 30, 1942
      • New Brighton, South Africa
    • Children
      • Atandwa Kani
    • Other works
      He acted in Athol Fugard's plays, "The Island," "Sizwe Bansi Is Dead," and "Statements After An Arrest Under The Immorality Act," at the Royal Court Theatre in London, England with Winston Ntshona, Yvonne Bryceland, Ben Kingsley, and Wilson Dunster in the cast. Athol Fugard was also director.
    • Publicity listings
      • 2 Articles

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kani lost his left eye during a beating by South African police after returning home from a Broadway production of "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead", which was critical of Apartheid. He survived after being left for dead and subsequently won a 1975 Tony Award for his performance.

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