Hero of the Month: Al Kikume
Back during the Golden Age of Hollywood, if you were a film maker and needed a Polynesian actor to play a bit part or a major supporting role, Al Kikume was your go to guy. A full blooded Hawaiian, he was born in Honolulu, but according to differing sources, grew up in Kansas. His first big break in acting came in 1933, playing a native in Principal’s jungle serial Tarzan the Fearless (1933) and then played one of John Davidson’s henchmen in Universal’s Perils of Pauline (1933) remake.
Kikume quickly became a familiar face in Fox’s Charlie Chan series, playing minor policemen in Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936), Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937), Charlie Chan in Reno (1939) and Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939). In between these films he was seen in many jungle films like The Hurricane (1937) and Wallaby Jim of the Islands (1937), usually playing a native.
His biggest role was in the Columbia serial Mandrake the Magician (1939), playing Mandrakes loyal servant and best bud Lothar, helping to track down a mystery criminal known only as The Wasp. His next biggest role was in Republic’s Jungle Girl (1941), playing Chief Lutembi , helping Nyoka fend off criminal mastermind Slick Latimer after the tribe’s diamond treasure. Kikume also had brief appearances in Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941) and Perils of Nyoka (1942).
Kikume spent the rest of the decade in small roles in films like White Savage (1943), Ilse of Tabu (1945), Jungle Jim (1948) and Wake of the Red Witch (1948). His film work in the fifties included cult favorite Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952), Road to Bali (1952) and Tarzan and the She Devil (1953). he also appeared in TV episodes of Ramar of the Jungle and Adventures of Superman. His final film credit is as an extra in Around the World in 80 Days (1956).
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