Orlando Martins - The LEGEND. The First World Acclaimed African Film Actor

Who was Orlando Martins?

Orlando Martins was an actor born in 1899 and died in 1985 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Orlando Martins was an actor who had a successful Hollywood career. Martins began his acting career appearing in various films, such as the adventure “Sanders of the River” (1935) with Leslie Banks, “The Hasty Heart” (1950) with Ronald Reagan and the Trevor Howard drama “The Heart of the Matter” (1954). He also appeared in the action flick “Simba” (1955) with Dirk Bogarde and “West of Zanzibar” (1955). He continued to act in productions like the Victor Mature action film “Safari” (1956), the Tyrone Power adventure “Abandon Ship!” (1957) and “Sapphire” (1959) with Nigel Patrick. He also appeared in the Audrey Hepburn dramatic adaptation “The Nun’s Story” (1959). Nearing the end of his career, he continued to act in “Killers of Kilimanjaro” (1960) with Robert Taylor, the comedy adventure “Call Me Bwana” (1963) with Bob Hope and the dramatic adaptation “Sammy Going South” (1963) with Edward G Robinson. He also appeared in the dramatic adaptation “Mister Moses” (1965) with Robert Mitchum. Martins last acted in the Wole Soyinka comedic adaptation “Kongi’s Harvest” (1973).

Martins passed away in September 1985 at the age of 86.

Orlando Martins acted with actors who later became Presidents of their countries such as Ronald Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004), the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) in “The Hasty Heart” a 1949 Anglo-American co-production directed by Vincent Sherman, playing “Blossom” the African soldier in Burma and played the role of “Klova” with Jomo Kenyatta (1889 – 22 August 1978) in “Sanders of the River”.

He has made immeasurable contributions to the motion picture industry and made an impact on the cinema screen that is yet to be surpassed by any other Africa actor. His name is synonymous with the big screen itself, dating back to the early days of the silent movies.