Oliver Musila Litondo (born August 4, 1948) is a Kenyan actor, journalist and news anchor. He is known for portraying Kimani Maruge in the 2010 biographical film The First Grader. For his portrayal as Maruge, Litondo won the AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor and the Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor. He was also nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his performance in The First Grader.
Litondo's first known role is in Ragbir Singh's Mlevi (The Drunkard) (1968), the first feature length film in Swahili and considered the first locally produced Kenyan feature film. In a 2024 segment on KBC Channel 1 about the history of Kenyan film, Litondo said that he tried unsuccessfully to locate this pioneering film.
Litondo is a graduate of the University of Iowa, Stockholm University and Harvard University. He is married to Beldina Auma, and they have four children. One of their children, Grace Litondo, is a singer. Litondo is a recipient of the Kalasha Lifetime Achievement award.
Filmography + Year Title Role Notes1968MleviFirst Film Made in Kenya1969MremboAnother Pioneer Film Made in Kenya1975 The Wilby Conspiracy Minor role1980 The Bushtrackers Johnny Kimathi Cast1984 Sheena Chief Harcomba Cast1988 The Lion of Africa Sergeant Cast1990 Ivory Hunters Kenneth Cast2010 The First Grader Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge Cast2011 The Rugged Priest Catholic Bishop Cast2024 Birthday Live Daudi 1971The Search for the NileKing MutesaCast, TV series (2 episodes)1976 - 1977Orzowei, il Figlio Della SavanaAmunaiCast, Mini series1977The Track of the African BongoNjiriCast1977DisneylandNjiriCast, TV series ( 2 episodes)2012The Truth About PriestStanleyCast, Short film2013UnforgatableOkoro DimkaCast, TV series (1 episode)2014Naku Penta Naku TakaVinays BoseCast2022Country QueenProfCast, TV series (6 episodes)2024Sambaza Furaha Na Safaricom Hii KrisiOld Wise ManCast, Short ad
Award and nominations +YearAwarding OrganizationCategoryNomineeResultRef2012Image Awards (NAACP)Outstanding Actor in a Motion PictureOliver Litondo2012Black Reel AwardsBest ActorOliver Litondo2011Black Film Critics Circle AwardsBest ActorOliver Litondo2012Kalasha Internationa Film and TV AwardsLifetime Achievement AwardOliver Litondo2012AARP Movies for Grownups AwardsBest ActorOliver Litondo
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