Sabu Dastagir

Actor. Born in Karapure, Mysore, in southern India, the son of a mahout (elephant driver) who raised him after the early death of his wife. His father died when he was six years old, and the orphaned boy was taken into the service of the Maharajah of Mysore as a stable boy before graduating to mahout. At age 11, he was discovered by filmmaker Robert Flaherty, who cast him in the title role of the 1937 feature film 'Elephant Boy.' His natural ability in front of the camera earned him an exclusive contract with Alexander Korda. He, with his older brother acting as guardian, went to England to complete the film. The pair became wards of the British crown, and were given an education. He made his first Technicolor film, 'The Drum' the following year. His most famous films, 'The Thief of Bagdad' (1940), 'The Jungle Book' (1942), and 'Arabian Nights (1942) followed. Prior to his 20th birthday, he became an American citizen, and enlisted in US Army Air Corps. During the Second World War, he was assigned as a tail gunner on a bomber crew and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his exemplary performance under combat conditions. After being discharged in 1946, he resumed his career in Britain with 'Black Narcissus' (1947) and 'The End of the River' (1947). He then returned to Hollywood, where he remained. He continued to make films such as 'Man-Eater of Kumaon' (1948) and 'Song of India' (1949) during which he met his future wife, Marilyn Cooper. 'Savage Drums' (1951), and 'Jaguar' (1956), followed, none of which succeeded to the level of his pre-war films. Roles became less frequent, and he expanded into a successful career in property. He completed only another half dozen films, the last being a film for Disney Studios, 'A Tiger Walks' (1963). A few days after a physical indicated he was in the best of health, he suffered a fatal heart attack. His full name is still usually mis-recorded, most sources have it as Sabu Dastagir, but his family indicated that his given name was Selar Sabu. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the 6200 block of Hollywood Boulevard.