Trivia

According to his widow, actress Marilyn Cooper, Sabu had a complete physical just a few days before his death, at which time his doctor told him, "If all my patients were as healthy as you, I'd be out of business." Thus, his sudden death of a heart attack at the age of 39 came as even more of a shock than it would have been otherwise. His last film, Disney's A Tiger Walks (1964), was released posthumously, to good reviews.

He became an American citizen on January 4, 1944, after which he served in the US Army Air Force during World War II as a tail gunner.

Was one of the many dozen of Hollywood celebrities who made regular weekend visits to Ralph Helfer's Africa U.S.A. Exotic Animal Ranch in Soledad Canyon, California to play with the animals and to pitch in with the chores.

In the late 1940s and 1950s, he was among the richest stars in Hollywood. In an era in which white actors often played Asian characters, he was respected not only for his physique but also for his natural acting abilities. He was a friend to many Hollywood actors including James Stewart and Ronald Reagan.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and served with distinction.

When Sabu's brother was killed by a robber in 1960, the actor had to take over management of their furniture store. He was in the process of making a comeback when he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Was the first actor to play the main character Mowgli from Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book".

He was 12 years old and cleaning out the stables of a wealthy Indian maharajah when he was spotted by director Robert J. Flaherty, who was in India looking for a lead for his film Elephant Boy (1937).

Director George Stevens sought to borrow Sabu for the title role of "Gunga Din" (1939) but producer Alexander Korda refused to loan out his star. Aware of this, actor Sam Jaffe patterned his audition for Gunga Din after Sabu and won the coveted role. In order to give his best performance, Jaffe reportedly told himself "Think Sabu" before each scene was shot.

Before entering the service during WWII the actor participated in the Treasury Department's defense bond campaign, touring thirty cities and broadcasting on radio.

The first Indian actor to make it big in Hollywood. However, he was restricted to stereotypical roles of Indians.

Most reference books list his full name as Sabu Dastigir, which was the name he used legally, but research by journalist Philip Liebfried suggests that his full name was, in fact, Selar Sabu. His brother's name was Shaik Dastagir (previously Dastagir Shaik), which may have been the source of confusion surrounding Sabu's full name.

Kishore Sahu cast Shashikala opposite Johnny Walker in Sauda which created ripples because it also starred the Hollywood kid and the Elephant Boy Sabu. It was a prestigious project which was abruptly shelved and Shashikala moved to stunt films and double shifts to keep the kitchen fires burning .

Father of Jasmine Sabu and Paul Sabu.

Singer songwriter John Prine wrote a song about him titled "Sabu The Elephant Boy".

Was offered Sunil Dutt's role in Mother India (1957) but declined it.