Nigerians woke up on Monday to the news of the passing away of veteran actor, Lari Williams.
The late actor died of an unknown illness on Sunday at his home in Ikom, Cross River State.
Confirming the news of his death, Abubakar Yakubu, the national secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in a statement, said the late actor informed the Guild last week of his illness.
He said “Yes, credible family sources have confirmed his death. We’re still trying to reach the family. Last week, we got a message from him that he was ill.
“We’re still trying to put ourselves together and reach out to him. Unfortunately, this (his death) happened in the process. We’ll speak more on that when we finally contact the family.”
Below are some of things about the late actor:
- He got his secondary education at CMS Grammar School, Lagos
- Lari Williams was the first president of the AGN.
- He had an illustrious career in the movie landscape which spanned over five decades.
- He is the first actor to ever perform on top of Zuma Rock in Abuja FCT, 1,200 feet high, where he performed his late friend, Maman Vatsa’s poem, ‘The bird that sings in the rain.’
- He studied at the London school of journalism and thereafter went to acting school in the United Kingdom.
- The actor was famous featuring in several hit soap operas including ‘Village Headmaster’, ‘Ripples’, and ‘Mirror in The Sun’.
- He was also a renowned poet and playwright during his lifetime.
- In 2008, he was honoured with a member of the order of the Federal Republic.