Sabu Howard is a name that many readers search for when they want to learn about the Indian-born film star known simply as Sabu. He was born in a village near Mysore in 1924, and he went from elephant handler to international movie star before his fourteenth birthday. Reliable references list him as Sabu Dastagir, and no trusted source confirms a surname of Howard.
This guide draws on the BFI Screenonline biography, Wikipedia and the newspaper reports it cites. It covers his childhood, his best-known films, his war service, his marriage, his setbacks and his legacy. Where the public record says nothing, such as on his religious beliefs, the article says so instead of guessing.
Sabu Howard Bio at a Glance
Sabu Howard, better known as Sabu, was an Indian and American actor who worked mainly in British and American films from 1937 to 1963. The table below gives the key facts in one place.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Common name | Sabu (also searched as Sabu Howard) |
| Credited name | Sabu Dastagir |
| Reported birth name | Selar Sabu |
| Date of birth | January 27, 1924 |
| Place of birth | Karapura, Mysore, British India (now Karnataka, India) |
| Date of death | December 2, 1963 |
| Place of death | Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California |
| Age at death | 39 |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1937 to 1963 |
| Citizenship | British subject; United States citizen from 1944 |
| Spouse | Marilyn Cooper (married October 19, 1948) |
| Children | Two, including musician Paul Sabu |
| Military service | U.S. Army Air Forces, 1944 to 1945, sergeant |
| Military honor | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Best-known films | Elephant Boy, The Drum, The Thief of Bagdad, Jungle Book, Black Narcissus |
Is Sabu Howard the Same Person as Sabu Dastagir?
Most likely, yes, because every credible biography of this actor uses the name Sabu or Sabu Dastagir. The addition of “Howard” appears mainly on low-quality websites that mix details from different people with similar names.
Those pages also confuse the actor with the American wrestler Terry Brunk. Brunk took the ring name Sabu from the actor, and he died in May 2025. He is a different person with a different life story.
The actor’s own name has a small mystery too. Most reference books say Sabu Dastagir, but journalist Philip Leibfried found that his birth name was Selar Sabu. His son Paul confirmed this, according to the BFI. His brother used the name Dastagir.
Early Life and Family Background
Sabu was born on January 27, 1924, in the village of Karapura, which sits on the banks of the Kabini river near Mysore. The area had a large elephant camp, and the Maharaja of Mysore used the region for hunting.
His father worked as a mahout, which means an elephant keeper and trainer. Wikipedia describes his father as Deccani and his mother as Assamese. The BFI says his mother died when he was very young.
His father died in 1931, when Sabu was about six years old. The Maharaja of Mysore then took the boy into his service. Sabu started as a stable boy and later became a mahout himself.
He had at least one brother, Shaik Dastagir. Shaik later managed his career in the United States. That family bond matters, because the brother stayed close to him through his rise to fame.
How Did Sabu Become a Film Star?
Sabu became a film star at age 13, when documentary filmmaker Robert Flaherty spotted him riding an elephant. Flaherty was searching for a boy to play Toomai in a film based on a Rudyard Kipling story.
The result was Elephant Boy, released in 1937. Sabu had no acting experience and spoke limited English. The BFI notes that critics praised his performance, and the film was a box-office hit.
The production was not easy. It took about two years to finish, and Zoltan Korda replaced Flaherty during filming. Sabu traveled to England for six weeks of studio scenes.
Producer Alexander Korda then signed him to a long-term contract. In 1938, Korda commissioned a story called The Drum to serve as a starring vehicle for the young actor. That film made Sabu a leading man in Britain.
What Were Sabu’s Most Famous Films?
Sabu’s most famous film is The Thief of Bagdad, released in 1940, in which he played the street boy Abu. Director Michael Powell said Sabu had a “wonderful grace” about him.
His other major titles include the following:
- Elephant Boy (1937): his debut, as Toomai.
- The Drum (1938): his first Technicolor film, as Prince Azim.
- Jungle Book (1942): he played Mowgli in a film shot entirely in California.
- Arabian Nights (1942), White Savage (1943) and Cobra Woman (1944): three adventure films for Universal Pictures with Maria Montez and Jon Hall.
- Black Narcissus (1947): he played the Young General in the Powell and Pressburger classic.
- The End of the River (1947): a leading role as Manoel, a young Amazonian man.
The BFI calls him Britain’s first above-the-title film star of Indian origin. It also describes him as, for many years, India’s only truly international star.
Military Service in World War II
Sabu joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1944, right after he became an American citizen. He served as a tail gunner and ball-turret gunner on B-24 Liberator bombers.
He flew several dozen missions in the Pacific with the 370th Bombardment Squadron of the 307th Bomb Group. He held the rank of sergeant and served until 1945.
The military awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor and bravery. This honor shows that his life was not only about film sets and studio fame.
Many actors of his era entertained troops from a safe distance. Sabu flew in combat aircraft instead. That choice remains one of the most respected parts of his story.
Marriage and Relationship History
Sabu married actress Marilyn Cooper on October 19, 1948. Cooper was little known as an actress. Her only film part was an uncredited role as Princess Tara in Song of India in 1949.
The couple had two children, a son named Paul and a daughter named Jasmine. Their marriage lasted until Sabu died in 1963, a span of about 15 years.
Their son, Paul Sabu, became a rock musician and formed a band called Sabu in the 1980s. Wikipedia reports that their daughter, Jasmine Sabu, worked as an animal trainer for the motion picture industry. She died in 2001, but that detail still needs a stronger source.
Sabu also faced a public paternity case. A dancer from Black Narcissus, Brenda Marian Julier, claimed he fathered her daughter, who was born in 1948. A jury sided with Sabu in 1950 by a vote of nine to three. An appeals court ordered a new trial in 1952, and Sabu settled in 1953 without admitting paternity.
Life Challenges and Personal Struggles
Sabu’s biggest professional struggle came after World War II. Hollywood did not offer him the kind of roles that British studios had given him, and his career slowed.
He kept working, but mostly in low-budget films. Through much of the 1950s he starred in European productions that did not succeed. In 1952, he performed an elephant act in the Harringay Circus in London.
He also lost a chance to appear in Indian cinema. Producers considered him for the role of Birju in Mehboob Khan’s Mother India in 1957, but he did not receive a work permit. The role went to Sunil Dutt, and Sabu never appeared in a film made in his home country.
His private life brought pain as well. A fire damaged the second floor of his Los Angeles home in November 1950. Newspaper reports said a man convicted of arson claimed a friend of the actor asked him to start it. Sabu’s insurer later sued him to recover the payout.
In 1960, his brother Shaik was shot and killed during a robbery at his home. The killer was an 18-year-old former employee of the brothers’ furniture store.
Faith, Values, and Personal Beliefs
The sources reviewed for this article do not state Sabu’s religion or personal beliefs. Writing about them would mean guessing, so this section sticks to what his actions show.
He chose to become an American citizen in 1944. He then volunteered for dangerous combat duty in the same year. Both choices suggest he felt a strong loyalty to the United States.
He also stayed close to his family. His brother managed his career for years, and his marriage lasted until his death. Those facts point to a man who valued loyalty at home.
Colleagues also left kind words about his character on screen. Michael Powell praised his grace, and the BFI praised his natural charm. These comments describe his screen presence, not his private faith.
Life Away From the Spotlight
Away from the cameras, Sabu built a business career. The BFI notes that he developed a successful career in property after he left Britain. Wikipedia adds that he and his brother ran a furniture store.
He lived in the Los Angeles area for most of his adult life. He settled there after the war and stayed in California until his death. He also kept working in film, even when the roles got smaller.
His comeback began in 1963. He played a supporting role in Rampage with Robert Mitchum, and then he appeared opposite Brian Keith in the Disney film A Tiger Walks.
A Tiger Walks became his final film. It reached theaters on March 12, 1964, about three months after he died.
Family and Life Today
Sabu died suddenly on December 2, 1963, in Chatsworth, California. A heart attack caused his death at age 39. He rests in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.
His family continues to carry the name. His son Paul Sabu works as a rock musician and formed a band in the 1980s that used his father’s name.
His influence also reaches beyond his family. Singer John Prine wrote a song about him called “Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone,” on his 1978 album Bruised Orange. Wrestler Terry Brunk also took the name Sabu in his honor.
Film historians still study his career. Philip Leibfried wrote a full biography, Star of India: The Life and Films of Sabu, published in 2010.
Conclusion
Sabu’s life took him from an elephant camp near Mysore to the biggest film studios in Britain and the United States. He became one of the first Indian-born actors with an international audience. He also served in combat during World War II and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.
His later career did not match his early success, and he faced real losses and public disputes. Even so, his work in Elephant Boy, The Thief of Bagdad and Black Narcissus still earns praise today. His story deserves to be told with facts, and the name Sabu Dastagir remains the most reliable way to find them.
FAQs
Who is Sabu Howard?
Sabu Howard is a common online name for the actor Sabu Dastagir, born January 27, 1924, in Karapura, Mysore. He became a film star at 13 in Elephant Boy and later starred in The Thief of Bagdad. No reliable source confirms Howard as a real surname.
How old was Sabu when he died?
Sabu was 39 years old when he died. He passed away on December 2, 1963, in Chatsworth, California, after a heart attack. He had just finished work on the Disney film A Tiger Walks, which reached theaters about three months later in March 1964.
What is Sabu best known for?
Sabu is best known for playing Abu in The Thief of Bagdad in 1940. He also starred in Elephant Boy, The Drum, Jungle Book and Black Narcissus. The BFI calls him Britain’s first above-the-title film star of Indian origin and, for many years, India’s only truly international star.
Did Sabu serve in the military?
Yes, Sabu served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1944 and 1945, after he became an American citizen. He worked as a tail gunner and ball-turret gunner on B-24 bombers in the Pacific. The military awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and bravery.
Who were Sabu’s wife and children?
Sabu married actress Marilyn Cooper on October 19, 1948, and they stayed together until he died in 1963. They had two children. Their son, Paul Sabu, became a rock musician, and their daughter, Jasmine Sabu, worked as an animal trainer in the film industry before her death in 2001.
