The Nigerian movie industry has lost quite a few talents in recent times, but these late Nollywood actors left a lasting impression that’ll keep their memories alive.
Nollywood actors who have died in the last few years
Murphy Afolabi
Source: Instagram/@murphyafolabi20
He passed away on May 14, 2023, just a few days after celebrating his 49th birthday, but the actor was a force to reckon with in the Yoruba faction of Nollywood, having featured in over 100 movie productions. Some of his notable works include Olokiki Oru, Wasila Coded Reloaded and One Blood.
Source: Instagram/@theofficialsaintobi
Before his demise, the veteran film star who rocked the late 90s and early 2000s kept a low profile, with fans pining to have him on their screens again. Unfortunately, Saint Obi bade the world goodbye on May 7, 2023, after battling an undisclosed illness. He starred in over 60 Nollywood movies and produced his first movie, Take Me to Maama, in 2001. Some of his notable works include State of Emergency, Final Whistle and Sakobi the Snake Girl.
Chief Ojo Arowosafe ( Fadeyi Oloro)
Source: Instagram/@fadeyioloro1
Popularly known as Fadeyi Oloro, the veteran Nollywood actor passed away on March 7, 2023, aged 66. His daughter, Fasunwon Oluwafunke, broke the news of the actor’s death following a protracted battle with a terminal disease. Fadeyi Oloro was loved by many for his iconic roles in Yoruba movies, as a traditional warlord or herbalist. Some of his notable works include Inubibi, Anike Olufa and Akoni Mefa.
Kunle Adetokunbo (Dejo Tunfulu)
Source: The Guardian
Dejo Tunfulu passed away, aged 49, in April 2022. He was loved by many for his funny and chaotic characters as the help or gateman in Yoruba movies. He was also a writer and movie producer, who worked on movies like Jide Jendo, Yemi My Lover and Booda Ode.
Gbenga Richards
Source: Instagram/@gbengarichards
Gbenga Richards died on May 12, 2022, after battling an unknown ailment. Richards was a leading Nollywood star who dazzled viewers with his performance during the 1990s and early 2000s. Some of his notable works include Sango, Mirror in the Sun and Super Story.
Sam Loco Efe
12 years after his demise, Sam Loco Efe still holds a place in the hearts of colleagues and fans because of his indelible work on setting the blueprint for comedy in Nollywood. He died in August 2011. According to reports, the actor was found dead in a hotel room in Owerri, Imo State, after what seemed like an asthma attack. Some of his notable works include Police Recruit, Daddy Must Obey and Tom & Jerry.
Ernest Asuzu
Ernest Asuzu is among the late Nollywood actors who ruled supreme during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The actor took an exit from the movie scenes in 2015 after he came down with a stroke that affected his speech. Asuzu passed away in January 2021 aged 37. Some of his notable works include Ogidan, Highway to The Grave and Formidable Force.
Karibi Fubara
He’s one of the late Nollywood actors whose death left fans and colleagues completely heartbroken because of how open he was about his battle with kidney cancer. Fubara died in December 2021, months after announcing he’d had a successful surgery to take out 90% of his tumour. Some of his notable works include God Calling, The Smart Money Woman and Ratnik.
Sadiq Daba
Source: BBC
Sadiq Daba was a veteran broadcaster and Nollywood thespian who died in March 2021 at the Ayinke General Hospital in Ikeja, after battling leukaemia and prostate cancer. Daba was loved by fans and colleagues, especially for his role as Inspector Waziri in Kunle Afolayan’s October 1, which earned him an AMAA for Best Actor. Some of his notable works include Citation, Eagle Wings and Seven.
Victor Olaotan
Best known for his role in the hit TV series, Tinsel, Victor Olaotan died in August 2021 aged 69. The actor had taken a break from the acting scene in 2016, following a life-altering car accident on his way to a movie set, that left him incapacitated. Some of his notable works include Lotanna, Three Wise Men and Alter Ego. He’s among the late Nollywood actors we won’t forget soon.
Nollywood actresses who have died in the last few years
Rachel Oniga
Source: Instagram/@rachelonigafoundation
Rachel Oniga was a strong force to reckon with in Nollywood, and her demise left a big gap that colleagues can only hope to fill. The veteran film star, 64, passed away in July 2021 from heart-related issues. Until her demise, Oniga was active in the industry and featured in big-budget productions like The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, A Naija Christmas and Chief Daddy.
Ada Ameh
Fans and lovers of the popular TV series, The Johnsons, had a hard time accepting the demise of Ada Ameh. The 48-year-old who’d been battling with her mental health since the demise of her daughter in 2020, passed away in July 2022. Until her death, Ameh was active in the movie scene and featured in projects like Phone Swap, Lockdown and Our Husband.
Sidikat Odukanwi
Source: Diamond Classic Photography
Known by fans and colleagues as Iyabo Oko, the veteran actress battled with her health for years before she died. Rumours of her death first surfaced in 2021 and 2022. However, her daughter finally confirmed her passing on Thursday, June 29, 2023. She is popular for her roles in Yoruba language movies like Okobo Dimeji, Idunnu Okan and Ayitale.
Moji Olaiya
The 42-year-old Yoruba movie star passed away in Canada in May 2017, barely two months after she welcomed a child. Olaiya’s death came as a shock to fans and colleagues who were waiting for her to make a grand return to the screen after her maternity leave. Olaiya was the daughter of legendary highlife maestro, Victor Olaiya, and some of her notable works include No Pain No Gain, Sade Blade and Omo Iya Meta Leyi.
Ify Onwuemene
Ify Onwuemene became a favourite for many Nigerians as the late Sam Loco Efe’s on-screen wife in the TV series, Everyday People. She passed on in May 2021 after battling endometrial cancer. Before her demise, Davido had donated a sum of ₦1m when she was raising funds for her treatment. Some of her notable works include Heaven’s Gate, Closet and I Need to Know.
Aishat Abimbola
Nollywood suffered another major loss when Aishat Abimbola passed on barely a year after her colleague, Moji Olaiya, died in Canada. The actress died aged 42 after battling breast cancer. Until her demise, Abimbola AKA Omoge Campus was a force to reckon with in the Yoruba faction of Nollywood. Some of her notable works include Odaju Obinrin, Omoge Campus and Eje Adegbenro
