American actor Michael Walker, who gained fame in the film Man from Africa by Mickey Nivelli, was found dead at his Four Roads, Diego Martin apartment after he had reportedly died as a result of heart failure about two days before.
Police told the Express that his landlady opened the door to his apartment and found him dead on the floor after one of his sons telephoned her, saying that his father was not responding to his phone-calls.
Walker was 63.
He shot to fame with his starring role in the locally-produced film Man from Africa, which was released in 1982 and was followed by the sequel Girl from India, both directed by India-born Harbance Kumar aka Mickey Nivelli.
Prior to his acting, Walker enjoyed a modeling career which brought him to the attention of local movie-makers.
He also acted in Jealous, Messing Around and Rainbow Raani, made by Nivelli.
Nivelli in a message said Walker had failed to get in his own country the fame he deserved. “With my movies I had hoped he would travel internationally but those plans fell.”
Fellow actor Ralph Maraj, who also starred in Girl from India, said: “It is so sad that he has passed away. An actor of great talent and he would have done very well if he had continued because he always had natural acting skills.”
“He was quite a warm and friendly person, always full of energy, and I wish to extend my sympathies to his family,” Maraj added.
Walker matriculated with Yale ’63, enrolled for a period, living in Trumbull, studied anthropology, but left before graduating to begin a career in acting. His first role was as Bill Russell on the television show Mr. Novak in March 1964 in the episode Moment Without Armor. The remainder of his filmography includes roles in The Defenders, Perry Mason, The Name of the Game, and others, concluding in 1970.
