Ernest Abuba (August 25, 1947 – June 21, 2022) was an American actor, playwright, and theatre director of Filipino descent. He appeared on stage and on film, with more than one hundred stage appearances, and was the co-founder of the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre.
Early life Born in Honolulu to Filipino parents, Abuba was raised in San Diego and Texas. He trained at the Actors Studio.
Career Abuba received an Obie Award in 1983 for his portrayal of Kenji Kadota in Yellow Fever. His Broadway credits include: Pacific Overtures, Loose Ends, Zoya's Apartment, and Lincoln Center Theatre's The Oldest Boy, which was his final Broadway role. Among the highlights of his long Off-Broadway career is that he was the first Asian American in the role of Sakini in Teahouse of the August Moon, and the first Asian American as MacBeth in Shogun Macbeth. On screen he was known for 12 Monkeys, Call Me, Forever Lulu and many more roles. As a playwright, he was known for 2013's Dojoji.
Abuba was on the theatre faculty at Sarah Lawrence College.
Personal life Abuba and Tisa Chang married in 1976 and had one son before divorcing. Abuba died in New York City on June 21, 2022.
Filmography
Film + Year Title Role Notes1986Forever, LuluMugger #11988Call MeBoss1990King of New York'King Tito' Salvador1992Article 99Ikiro Tenabe199512 MonkeysEngineer1997Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkThe King1997Tuff Luk KlubRed's butlerAlso associate producer
Television + Year Title Role Notes 1976 Pacific Overtures Samurai / Adams / Noble Television film 1986 Adderly Col. Doc Thieu Episode: "Adderly with Eggroll" 1990 The Cosby Show George Parker Episode: "Getting the Story" 1990 Vestige of Honor Thai Official Television film 1991 Counterstrike Chaing Episode: "Night of the Black Moon" 1992 Ghostwriter Karate Instructor Episode: "To Catch a Creep: Part 3" 1993 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Tan 1995 New York News Dr. Yamagucci Episode: "A Question of Truth" 1996–97 New York Undercover Sonny Fung 3 episodes
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