3 minute read
People of Africa- Fall issue
Benjamin Onyango
Benjamin Alfred Onyango Ochieng was born in Ofafa Jericho Estate in Eastlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Onyango experienced the vibrant culture of East Africa during his early life, growing up as the second child in a family of seven brothers. His father, Christopher Ochieng, and mother, Eudiah Achieng Ochieng, provided a firm foundation for their children. Onyango began his education at Ofafa Jericho Primary and Secondary School. At 18, he began working at British American Tobacco Kenya Ltd (BAT), starting in the Wages Department before moving to the computer department. This early exposure to the corporate world provided Onyango with valuable skills, but his passion lay
elsewhere. He pursued higher education at the United States International University (USIU) in Kenya, studying Management Information Systems. His academic journey
later took him to USIU in San Diego, USA, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from California State University, Stanislaus in 1992.
“Working with Bruce Willis was a gift. I learned so much from this man,” Onyango explains, referring to his major film “Tears of the Sun.”; “Bruce was very keen on his craft; he would crack jokes, yet when the camera was rolling, he flipped back to business.” Onyango recounts that from that movie set, his foundation of respect, punctuality, and presence was born. After graduation, Onyango moved to Hollywood, California, a bold move fueled by his dreams of acting and music. He furthered his studies in music and acting and joined the Funk Rock band P.F.O. for a few years. However, the allure of acting soon took precedence. Onyango focused on acting professionally, leading to roles in many feature films and popular American television series. His early roles included appearances in”General Hospital,”The Shield, and The X- Files.” Onyango s breakthrough came with significant roles in Tears of the Sun, God’s Not Dead, and Beautifully Broken. His diverse filmography also includes “Heavenly Deposit, Father Africa, The Boy Road to Redemption ;Default, Kwame, Chains, Thunder Chance, The Disciple, American Crude, and The Terminal. As a voice actor, Onyango contributes to high-profile projects such as ;Last Face, ;Furious 7, Constantine, Night At the Museum I & III, Machine Gun Preacher, Inception, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Primeval, League of ExtraordinaryGentlemen, The Path to 911, Mighty Joe Young, ; and ERing.
