Deyemi Okanlawon Biography: Education, Career, Marriage, Movies, and Awards

Nigerian actor Deyemi Okanlawon was born and raised in Lagos. The popular web series GidiUp (NdaniTV), Knock (Inkblot Productions), and Kpians Premonition (Stanlee Ohikhuare), as well as the short films Blink (Tolu Ajayi) and In Iredu, have all received nominations and awards from notable Nigerian cinema bodies, establishing him as a significant actor (Abiola Sobo).

Deyemi won the Best Actor in a Short Film award at the In-Short film festival in 2013 for his portrayal of a vicious, crazy spouse in the thriller short film Blink. Blink was also a nominee for the 2013 Nollywood Movies Awards’ Best Short Film category. Kpians Premonition received an AMVCA nomination for Best New Media Online Video, while In Iredu was among the top 5 finalists for Best Animation in the Afrinolly short film competition. Gidi Up won Best TV Series at the 2014 NMA, and he won Best Youth Act, Movie at the TUSH Awards for his performance in Gidi Up.

Early Life and Education

Deyemi Okanlawon was born and reared in Lagos State, which is in the southwest of Nigeria, and was raised by his parents, Mrs. Adeyinka Okanlawon, a baker, and Mr. Adeyemi Okanlawon, an aircraft engineer. He had his primary education at Taikenny Nursery and Primary School in Lagos and his secondary education at the International School in Lagos. He subsequently went on to the University of Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria to pursue a degree in chemical engineering. He was a sales and marketing professional before working as a baker. The New York Film Academy awarded him a Certificate in Acting for Film as well.

Career

Deyemi Okanlawon’s acting career began when he was five years old and appeared in a primary school play as part of a “end-of-year” production. Additionally, at the age of 9, Okanlawon appeared alongside Kunle Bamtefa in a nationally syndicated television commercial.

Additionally, Okanlawon actively participated in the theatre ensembles Xtreme Reaction, Snapshots, and Gf(x) (Harvesters Company) while he was a student at the University of Lagos (Covenant Christian Centre).

Deyemi Okanlawon made his feature film debut in the 2010 film ZR-7 with the short A Grain of Wheat. He later went on to co-produce and appear in numerous other short films. His frequent performances in a number of short films and web series, such as Blink, 6:30 pm, and Knock Knock, helped him gain popularity by 2012.

Additionally, he began concentrating solely on acting in movies in 2013 and has since appeared in over 50 movies. Additionally, he has made appearances in OLX and GLO Television advertisements as well as Waje and Aramide music videos.

In that same 2013, he was awarded the Best Actor in a Short Film at the In-Short film festival for his role as a psychotic husband in the thriller, Blink.

Marital Life

In January 2013, Okanlawon got married to his wife Damilola.  Also, on 10^th day of July, 2016, Okanlawon and his wife Damilola welcomed their first child.

Movies, TV shows/ feature films

2022       Blood Sisters      Kola       Biyi Bandele       Netflix original limited series

2021       King of Boys: The Return of the King

2020       Rise of the Saints

2019       Pandora’s Box

Two Weeks in Lagos

2017       The Royal Hibiscus Hotel

2016       Desperate Housegirls 2 & 3

Tobi

It’s about your husband

Madam Caitlyn

Asawana

Dinner

2015    Dowry II

If Tomorrow Never Comes

Road To Yesterday

All of Me

Undercover Lover

2014    Dowry I

Lekki Wives III

A Place Called Happy

Perfect Imperfection

Friends and Lovers

A Few Good Men

Vanity’s Last Game

2013    Kpians: The Feast of Souls

+Kpians Premonition

Gidi Up II

Obvious

2021       6:30PM

Journey To Self

Blink

Gidi Up Season 1

2011       Dependence

2010       ZR-7

Grain of Wheat

Awards and Nominations