Photo: Corpus
Obba Babatundé is celebrating his 71st birthday today.
Donald Cohen (Babatundé) was born on December 1, 1951, in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. As a child, he attended public schools. He was attracted early to the theater and from a young age would sing, dance and act for his family. He attended Jamaica High School where he was a well-rounded student who, in addition to appearing in the Sing ’68 school musical program, was a student aide and a member of both the track and cross country teams. After graduating from Jamaica High School in 1969, he started teaching at a private school for students of color. He also pursued acting jobs in New York, gaining some roles Off-Off-Broadway.
Learning that his ancestry included people from Nigeria, he adopted a name made of Yoruba words: Obba, for “king”, and Babatunde, meaning “father has returned again. Soap fans would know him for his roles as; Julius Avant on The Bold and the Beautiful, Rusy Bennett on All My Children, Carter Campbell on The Young and the Restless.
Please help us wish him a happy birthday!
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