John Okafor’s family was one of the poorest in his village in Enugu state. Okafor worked as a firewood seller, hairdresser and a butcher before making it as an actor. Okafor was 17 when he started working behind the camera, but directors and producers encouraged him to act. Today he has over 50 credits on Internet Movie Database (IMDB). He won the African Magic Viewer Choice Award and earned an endorsement deal with GOtv, a pay-for TV service in Africa.
Source: Stargist.com
Ramsey Noah started his acting career on the Nigerian soap opera “Fortunes” for which he was paid very little. He said he was only it in because he loved to act. Noah has earned the nickname “Lover Boy” because of his various roles in romantic films. He recently appeared in one of the top grossing Nigerian films ever, “30 Days in Atlanta” and since then has said he wouldn’t be playing “Lover Boy” type roles much anymore.
Source: Naij.com
Mike Ezuruonye won Best Actor at the 2014 Nollywood Movie Awards for his leading role in the movie “Unforgivable.” Ezuruonye has a classic story of “being discovered”—top Nollywood producer Ruke Amata spotted the young actor buying gas at a gas station. He got his first big break in the movie “Broken Marriage” and since then has won several awards, as well as signed endorsement deals with telecom giants Globacom and Airtel.
Source: Takemetonaija.com
Segun Arinze has starred in over 100 films and has a reputation of being the “bad boy” of Nollywood films. Some of the actor’s most popular films include “Women in Love” and “Silent Night.” Arinze has had a long career in entertainment. He is 50 years old and has been both an actor and singer.
Source: Thenet.ng
Chidi Mokeme first entered the limelight as a model, and was brand ambassador of telecommunications company Zodaphone. Today he is best known for the films “Critical Condition” and “Fire Dancer.” Nearly 20 films he acted in were made into sequels.
Source: Imdb.com
Jim Iyke has been acting since 2001 and in has appeared in over 150 films. The actor recently became a producer when he started Untamed Productions. Iyke produced the film, “1 Dollar” and its sequel “2 Dollars.” The entertainment mogul also has a music label, Untamed records, with an album featuring top artists like TuFace Idibia and Sound Sultan. He is a three-time Teenage Choice Award winner and was named Best African Actor at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards.
Source: Naij.com
Desmond Elliot became one of the first African actors to successfully run for political office in 2015 when he was elected to parliament. Elliot got his start as an actor on soap operas including “Everyday People,” “One Too Much” and “Saints and Sinners.” He has appeared in over 200 films and produced the film “Atlanta,” which received three nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009.
Source: Allafrica.com
Richard Mofe Damijo joins Desmond Elliot on the list of actors-turned-politicians. Damijo was elected Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Nigeria in 2009. He won Best Actor at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2005 and acted in nearly 100 films including the new comedy, “30 Days in Atlanta.”
Source: Imdb.com
