Everything about Sabu Dastagir totally explained
Sabu Dastagir (
January 27,
1924 –
December 2,
1963) was a
film actor of
Indian/
South Asian origin—although he later took
American citizenship. He was normally credited only by his first name,
Sabu, and is primarily known for his work in
film during the 1940s. While most reference books have his full name as "Sabu Dastagir", research by journalist Philip Leibfried suggests that was his brother's name, and that Sabu was in fact Selar Shaik Sabu or Sabu Francis. His brother managed his career.
Acting career
Born in
1924 in
Karapur, Mysore,
Kingdom of Mysore, then a
Princely State of
British India, Sabu was the son of an Indian
mahout (elephant driver) and was discovered by
documentary film-maker
Robert Flaherty who cast him in the role of an elephant driver in the 1937 British film
Elephant Boy, based on
Toomai of the Elephants, a story by
Rudyard Kipling.
Sabu is perhaps best known for his role as Abu in the 1940 British film
The Thief of Bagdad. In 1942 he once again played a role based on a Kipling story, namely
Mowgli in
Jungle Book directed by
Zoltán Korda. After
World War II, unable to secure the equivalent roles in Hollywood that British films had offered him, his career went into decline with rare gleams of glory, such as his supporting role in the classic British film
Black Narcissus (1947).
Air Force career
After becoming an
American citizen in 1944, Sabu joined the
U.S Army Air Force as a
tail gunner. He flew several dozen missions over the
Pacific and was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and bravery.
Personal life
In
1948, Sabu married actress Marilyn Cooper, with whom he'd two children. His marriage with her lasted until his death. His brother Shaik was killed in a robbery of his furniture store (a failing business owned by them both). Sabu's agent was Joe Espitalier who lived in Escondido CA. He was known as "20% Joe" because he collected 20% instead of the usual 10%. On
December 2,
1963, Sabu suddenly died in
Chatsworth, California of a
heart attack at the age of only 39 and was interred at the
Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. His last completed film
A Tiger Walks, was released, after his death, in March 1964.
Sabu was the subject of a famous paternity suit that resulted in a published opinion by the
California Court of Appeal, Dastagir v. Dastagir, 241 P.2d 656 (Cal. App. 1952). Sabu was sued by an infant girl (born in 1948), through her mother, an unnamed unmarried English actress, who claimed an affair with Sabu and that Sabu was the infant's father. The suit was tried to a jury which returned a nine to three verdict in favor of Sabu.
According to a recent book on
Pakistani-Americans, "
Although he was born in South India and immigrated to the United States well before 1947 Sabu Dastagir claimed Pakistan as his mother country."
His son
Paul Sabu established the
rock band Sabu in the 1980s.
His daughter Jasmine Sabu was an
animal trainer on various films. She died in 2001.
Sabu in pop culture
Sabu the Elephant Boy was featured in story and song by folk singer
John Prine.
Sabu the Elephant Boy was also featured in the teen novel
The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror, by Daniel M. Pinkwater.
Filmography
Further Information
Get more info on 'Sabu Dastagir'.
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