Ivan Mbakop
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Born Place: Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Also Known As:

    이반 음바코프

Ivan Mbakop

Ivan Mbakop (born October 15 in Yaoundé, Cameroon) is a multi-talented actor, filmmaker, and tech entrepreneur who has successfully navigated a unique path from engineering to Hollywood stardom. Raised in Cameroon in a family that prioritized education, Mbakop moved to the United States at age 15, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with honors from Tuskegee University. Before his acting breakthrough, he was a high-level software architect and UI/UX designer, founding a tech company that serviced elite clients like NASA. However, his lifelong passion for storytelling led him to transition into the entertainment industry, where he initially balanced tech consultancy with acting roles. He is also the founder of Mbakop Studios, a production house in Atlanta that merges filmmaking with cutting-edge technology, and the creator of Unrepped.ai, an innovative app designed to help aspiring actors find talent representation. In the film and television world, Mbakop is recognized for his commanding screen presence and versatility. He gained international visibility as Tambwe in the Netflix blockbuster Red Notice (2021), playing the resourceful pilot who aids Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds' characters. His television career is marked by significant roles in major franchises, including portraying Detective Caudle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Hawkeye (2021) and starring as Zenzo Tongai alongside Giancarlo Esposito in the AMC series Parish (2024). His resume also includes the Paramount+ series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, the sci-fi film Reminiscence, and the limited series The Good Lord Bird. As a filmmaker, Mbakop has received critical acclaim for his directorial and cinematography work; his 2023 short film Numb won over 14 awards at various festivals, including Best Cinematography at the North Hollywood Cinefest. .

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