15 Nollywood Stars You May Not Know Have Died (See Photos)

These demised stars would always be remembered for their role in one way or the other in the development of the Nigerian movie industry- Nollywood.

It’s not an understatement to assert that their death shook Nollywood to its core at the time each of their demise occurred.

They are however remembered for the legacies they left behind.

1. SAM LOCO EFE

The death of Sam Loco really got the entertainment industry in Nigeria shaking because he was very popular with his comic roles. Loco died in a hotel room in Owerri where he was editing a film, in August 2011, at age 66.

2. JUSTICE ESIRI

The Village Headmaster star actor died in February 2013 at age 70. He died of complications from diabetes in a Lagos hospital.

3. ENEBELI ELEBUWA

Enebeli became popular staring as Andrew in a popular TV programme many years ago. He died in an Indian hospital in December 2012. He died of stroke at age 66.

AMAKA IGWE

The very popular Nollywood producer died of asthma attack in Enugu, in April 2014. She was the writer and producer of the most popular TV soap ever to be aired in Nigeria, Checkmate. Her sudden demise at age 51 shook Nollywood and the entertainment industry as a whole due to her role in the development of Nollywood and in making stars like Julius Agwu, Bobmanuel Udokwu and so many of them.

JENIFER OKERE OSSAI

She was a big star in the 1990s. She had featured in Ikuku, Living in Bondage, True Confession, etc. She died between 1999 and 2000 and her death was the first to shake Nollywood.

JT TOM WEST

The River state born actor died in September 2006. Tom-West was involved in a fatal auto-accident, while he was returning from a location after a late night film shooting with two of his colleagues.
His former girlfriend, Tricia Eseigbe wept so hard that she was uncontrollable as at that time. He was popular with such movies as State of Emergency, Above The Law, Labistar etc.

GERALDINE EKEOCHA

The popular actress died in September 2011 during a fibroid operation at age 56.

PETE ENEH

BISI KOMOLAFE

She was a popular Yoruba actress whose sudden demise shook the Yoruba movie industry. She died at age 27 in January 2013.

FUNMI MARTINS

Funmi was a cross over actress who featured in both Yoruba and English films. She played a romantic role in When The Sun Set released in the 1990s which was Kate Henshaws first film. Funmi died in May 2002. Her death shook Nollywood then.

FRANCIS AGU

Francis became a star via Amaka Igwe’s Checkmate. After which he featured in Living in Bondage, Jezebel produced by his girlfriend then, Emem Isong.
Francis died in March 2007 after a protracted sickness.

DAVID IHESIE

The actor died in January 2012 at age 73.

CHRISTY ESSIEN IGBOKWE

Christy Uduak Essien-Igbokwe MFR(11 November 1960 – 30 June 2011) was a Nigerian musician and actress. She was known as Nigeria’s Lady of Songs. She put Nigeria’s name on the world music map with her evergreen “Seun Rere” track. She was the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria(PMAN).

She was also the chairman and managing director of Soul Train entertainment limited.Although she was not from the Yoruba tribe, she sang a lot of her songs in the western Nigerian language and drew heavily on their culture and tradition . Essien’s fluency in Yoruba, English, Igbo and her native Ibibio earned her an appeal which cut across tribal lines.

ASHLEY NWOSU

The top actor died in April 2011 after a brief illness.