List of dead Nollywood actors and actresses in 2021 and 2022
Losing a loved one often leads to unimaginable grief and a deep sense of loss. Fans get the same feeling when a celebrity they love passes away. These include musicians, actors, athletes, and politicians, among others. Several dead Nollywood actors and actresses passed on in 2021 and 2022, leaving their fans in grief and a massive gap in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed!
The Nigerian film and television industry has produced some of the continent’s best actors and actresses. Unfortunately, some of these talented men and women have passed away owing to various reasons. Who are these renowned dead Nigerian actors?
Dead Nollywood actors and actresses who passed on in 2021 and 2022
What famous actors and actresses died in 2021? Here is a look at the Nigerian actors and actresses who left us recently.
1. Romanus Amuta (Natty)
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
- Date of birth: 1942
- Demise: 9 February 2022
- Age at death: 79 years
Romanus Amuta, also known as Natty, died in February 2022. He was among the country’s most prolific actors of the 1980s. He passed away in Lagos in February 2022 after a protracted illness.
2. Lari Williams
- Date of birth: 1940
- Demise: 27 February 2022
- Age at death: 81 years
Lari Williams passed away in his hometown, Ikom, Cross-River, aged 81. He had a long-time illness that eventually led to his demise on 27 February 2022.
3. Tafa Oloyede
- Date of birth: 19 November 1952
- Demise: 1 February 2022
- Age at death: 69 years
Tafa Oloyede was one of the top Nollywood actors who died in 2021. He joined Nigeria’s acting industry in 1974 and went on to become a household name in Nollywood. He passed away at the beginning of 2022 after a short illness.
4. Shade Akintaylor, alias Oluweri Magbo Ojo
- Date of birth: October 1962
- Demise: 28 February 2022
- Age at death: 59 years
Shade Akintaylor, also known as Oluweri Magbo Ojo, passed away in the United Kingdom, aged 59 years. The late actress’s family reported that she died peacefully and quietly at night. Shade was one of the best-known Nollywood actresses in the 1980s and 1990s.
5. Victor Decker
- Year of birth: 1949
- Demise: 15 February 2021
- Age at death: 72 years
Before his demise, Victor Decker was among the best-known Nigerian veteran actors. He died in mid-February 2021. His neighbours reportedly found him dead in his apartment, with his body in a sitting position.
6. Rachel Oniga
- Date of birth: 23 May 1957
- Demise: 31 July 2021
- Age at death: 64 years
Rachel Oniga passed away at the age of 64 due to malaria and typhoid-related complications. While there were rumours that she passed away due to COVID-19 complications, her family dismissed the speculations. She was among the top Nigerian actresses who died in 2021.
7. Jim Lawson Maduike
- Date of birth: 25 December
- Demise: 9 January 2021
Jim Lawson Maduike was a well-known television show host, actor, radio broadcaster, and writer. He became an actor in 2004 and featured in over 150 movies before his demise. He passed on at home after complaining of body aches for a short while.
8. Ngozi Chiemeke
- Demise: 7th December 2021
The young Nollywood actress was said to have gone to use a point-of-sale shop on Deeper Life Road in the Boji-Boji area of Agbor when some armed men invaded the place and shot her. She succumbed to the wounds sustained during the shooting.
9. Babatunde Omidina, alias Baba Suwe
- Date of birth: 22 August 1958
- Demise: 22 November 2021
- Age at death: 63 years
Babatunde Omidina, also known as Baba Suwe, died at the age of 63. In April 2019, he went to America to seek diabetes treatment. Unfortunately, his health declined significantly in the years following the visit, eventually resulting in his demise.
10. Prince Ifeanyi Dike
- Demise: 27 August 2021
Prince Ifeanyi Dike passed away due to kidney-related complications. He had been diagnosed with kidney failure years before his demise and even underwent a transplant. Unfortunately, he had a kidney failure relapse and passed on in the process of raising additional funds for medical care.
11. Victor Olaotan
- Date of birth: 17 February 1952
- Demise: 26 August 2021
- Age at death: 69 years
Victor Olaotan was a prolific actor best known for his leading role in the soap opera Tinsel. He became disabled for years after being involved in a car accident along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
12. Stanley Okoro
- Date of birth: 10 October 1992
- Demise: 11 August 2021
- Age at death: 28 years
Stanley Okoro was among the fastest-rising Nigerian actors who died in 2021. He was also a digital marketer and content creator and mainly appeared as a comedian in films. After his demise, his family alleged that colleagues poisoned him since he was suspected of having died from food poisoning.
13. Rich Oganiru
- Date of birth: 23 May 1957
- Demise: 10 August 2021
- Age at death: 64 years
Rich Oganiru passed on after battling an illness for several months. Sadly, he did not have access to proper healthcare due to a reported lack of funds. Before his demise, a video of the bedridden actor surfaced online. In the clip, he was seen begging for funds to help him get medical attention.
14. Sam Obiagu
- Date of birth: 1971
- Demise: 23 December 2021
- Age at death: 50 years
Sam Obiagu was renowned for his roles in The Orbit, Battle of Kings, Strength of Womanhood, The King’s Decision, Another Life, Blood Brothers, and Royal Headache. While the date of his demise is known, the cause of his death was never publicly disclosed.
15. Olanrewaju Fasasi, alias Sound Sultan
- Date of birth: 27 November 1976
- Demise: 11 July 2021
- Age at death: 44 years
Olanrewaju Fasasi, also known as Sound Sultan, passed away in New Jersey, United States of America. His death came after a spirited battle with a type of cancer known as Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
16. Dan Nkoloagu
- Date of birth: 1937
- Demise: 22 January 2021
- Age at death: 84 years
Dan Nkoloagu was a veteran Nigerian actor who passed away due to health complications related to old age. These included arthritis and prostate issues. He was in and out of hospital for about a year prior to his demise.
17. Abiodun Aleja
- Date of birth: 16 April
- Demise: 21 May 2021
Abiodun Aleja was an actor, producer, and film director. He passed away at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he had been admitted following a short illness.
18. Bruno Iwuoha
- Date of birth: 6 October 1952
- Demise: 10 April 2021
- Age at death: 68 years
Bruno Iwuoha passed away at the National Hospital Abuja after a long battle with diabetes. He was renowned for his roles spanning over 509 films in his lifetime. One of the late actor’s most recent roles was in the 2020 film Silent Prejudice.
19. Karibi Fubara
- Date of birth: 30 August
- Demise: 15 December 2021
Karibi Fubara died in mid-December 2021 after battling cancer for more than a year. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2020.
20. Sadiq Daba
- Date of birth: 1951
- Demise: 3 March 2021
- Age at death: 70 years
Sadiq Daba was a renowned Nigerian broadcast journalist and actor. He took his last breath at a Lagos hospital. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and later leukaemia and was hospitalized for months before his demise.
21. Ernest Asuzu
- Date of birth: 26 November 1983
- Demise: 27 January 2021
- Age at death: 37 years
According to the late Ernest’s spouse, the renowned actor slept but never woke up. In 2015, he suffered a stroke that significantly affected his speech and had him bedridden for three years before his death.
22. Folake Aremu (Orisabunmi)
- Date of birth: 10 October 1960
- Demise: 5 January 2021
- Age at death: 60 years
Folake Aremu rose to prominence in the 1980s when she was cast to portray Orisabunmi in the television series, Arelu. Numerous other roles followed this in different productions in the 1990s. She passed away in her home in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Which actor died recently in Nollywood?
Which Nigerian actor died recently? Romanus Amuta, also known as Natty, died in February 2022. He was among the best-known Nigerian actors in the 1980s.
Which Nigerian actress died recently?
Ngozi Chiemeke died on 7 December 2021 after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Several dead Nollywood actors and actresses passed away in 2021 and 2022. These renowned entertainers left a gap in the industry and in their fans’ hearts. A considerable number of actors on this list are veterans who have been in the industry for decades.
READ ALSO: 40 famous black male actors every cinephile should know about
Legit.ng recently published an article about the 40 top black male actors every television fan should know about. The modern-day entertainment industry has numerous prolific black actors who have consistently kept their fans entertained.
Numerous films and television shows today have black actors in leading, supporting, and other major roles. Who are the top black actors one should know about, and which films and shows are they best known for?
Source: Legit.ng
Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com