BIOGRAPHY
Jamaican born and Brooklyn bred; Stogie Kenyatta was classically trained at the Afro American Studio in Harlem, Henry St. Settlement & Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble. A finalist in the N.Y. State Theatre competition with Artistic Director, John Houseman. He came West to College on a basketball scholarship where he studied Screenwriting & Political Science at the U of California & later privately with Ivan Markota at the Van Mar Academy for Television & Film Acting. Amassing over 30 television credits from Sit–coms, Film to Soap Operas. Guest Starring on J.A.G.- Bold & Beautiful, Batman & Robin, Half Past Dead, ER, Bernie Mac Show, FBI, to name a few. A character actor with leading man appeal he has authentic Jamaican, British and African dialects. Stogie recently completed a Co-Starring role in “Joseph” an international film he shot in Kingston, Jamaica, Cape Coast &Accra, Ghana; about the 400 year of Return & the Ashanti Tribe.
A talented Stand-up Comedian he’s appeared in Comedy Clubs around the Country & Headlined USO Comedy Tours in Tokyo, Japan and Okinawa. His witty sharp sense of humor & disarming smile makes him a sought after Master of Ceremonies & Keynote Speaker. He has appeared on the Gulf of Mexico, the South of France, London and seven Caribbean Islands. He has written several screenplay’s & will be directing his passion piece; a character driven dark comedy “Promise of Paradise” in the near future.
This charming son of a bitch is also the Writer/Artist of the acclaimed One Man Show on the life of Paul Robeson. “The World is my Home – The Life of Paul Robeson”. The winner of the Hollywood- Bev. Hills NAACP Best Solo Show.
This show is the most requested Pan African Black empowerment show on the U.S. & Caribbean Educational circuit. The play has been performed at over 100 Universities from Yale, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, U of London, U of Birmingham, England to The Univ. of the West Indies, hired by The Ministry of Education of Grand Cayman, US Virgin Islands, Anguilla & National Institute of Culture in Belize. Commissioned by US Embassies in Barbados, Antigua, Montserrat, St. Martin & Nassau Bahamas as well as sold out appearances from Honolulu, Kona, Hawaii to 8 Caribbean Islands. The first show to appear at The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, The Museum of NYC, as well as Theater Festivals in Miami, Hollywood & Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Stogie Kenyatta is one of the top Pan African Teaching Artists in the world on how Arts & Culture forced the globe to recognize our shared yet common humanity. This play is the most challenging performance of his career & the piece of work of which he is most proud. The play; a Tribute to the Legacy of this tortured American Genius; hopes to inspire others to emulate the life of Robeson & propel them to greater achievement & a more noble life. To awaken a new generation so that the lost brilliance of Robeson doesn’t remain lost. To let all people know; that the best of Paul Robeson lives in all of us & with it the power to change the World.
Married over 22 years to his soul-mate Meechi Kenyatta who works with him as his Stage Manager/ Personal Assistant and he’s father to son Kahaari Shakoor & daughter Tunisia Aminah who are both honors graduates from Ivy League Universities.
Kenyatta’s mission is to use Theater & the Arts as a vehicle for social change, to uplift inspire & make an impact before Heaven calls.
Biography
Jamaican born and Brooklyn bred; Stogie Kenyatta was classically trained at the Afro Am. Studio in Harlem, Henry St. Settlement & Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble. A finalist in the N.Y. State Theatre competition with artistic director, John Houseman; he also studied Screenwriting & Political Science at the University of California & later; privately with Ivan Markota at the Van Mar Academy for Television & Film Acting.
In the coming years he amassed over 30 television credits from Sit–coms, Film to Soap Operas.
A character actor with leading man looks he has authentic Jamaica, British and African dialects; and has played many Jamaicans & Africans on film.
In 1994 he took to the stage as a Stand up Comedian & in a few short years, he was performing at comedy clubs around the country. He Co- headlined a USO Comedy Tour in Tokyo, Japan and Okinawa. He has appeared on the Gulf of Mexico, the South of France, London and Comedy Clubs around the Country .
As a screenwriter Stogie has written several screenplay’s some of which were optioned. He is also the Writer/Artist of the acclaimed One Man Show on the life of Paul Robeson. “The World is my Home – The Life of Paul Robeson”.