Sabu

Former stable boy who achieved international fame after being cast by Robert Flaherty as the delightfully engaging "Elephant Boy" (1937). He subsequently appeared in several Alexander Korda productions and a number of US films through the mid-1960s. Boyishly handsome, with an outgoing personality and natural talent as an actor, Sabu did well in England in "Drums" (1938) and especially the splendid "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940).

His first American films, such as an adaptation of "The Jungle Book" (1942), were also worthy, but Sabu was soon typecast in a series of outlandish, exotic jungle and desert adventures alongside Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Turhan Bey. His last really interesting film was Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger's stunning "Black Narcissus" (1947). Subsequent work was mostly in low-budget adventures right up until his premature death at 39 from a heart attack.