Nollywood actors live unpredictable lives with long hours on set, irregular schedules, and no way of knowing what their next gig will be.
Should they find success in their course of career, they can have big paychecks and the fulfillment of doing what they love. Movie lovers may think of that as the ultimate goal, but the 10 stars that would be mentioned in this content, have stopped acting for one reason or the other.
Saint Obi whose real name is Obinna Nwafor is a legendary Nollywood actor. As a great actor and Nollywood bad boy, he has been regarded as one of the best actor of his generation and one of the greatest actors of all time.
In the 1990s, he was often called Nollywood’s Mr. Quality because of his attention to detail when producing or directing movies. He joined the movie industry in 1995 when he started attending movie auditions. Since then, he has featured in a number of movies, TV series, and soap operas which has aired on NTA and several other commercial televisions.
Obi is best known for his roles in Candle Light, Sakobi, Goodbye Tomorrow, Heart of Gold, Festival of Fire, Executive Crime, Last Party, and many more. In most of his movies, he either played the role of a police detective or a security agent.
Rita Nzelu is a renowned Nollywood actress, model, and TV personality. She joined the movie industry in 1992 and rose to fame after starring in the Nollywood blockbuster, Living in Bondage. She also starred in movies like Ukwa, Ortega and His Enemies, Stigma of Womanhood, Terrible Sin, and many more.
In 2003, she won the award for Best Actress in Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for her role in the Nollywood comic movie Ukwa.
Nzelu, during the 90s and early 2000s, was the most sought after actress in Nollywood.
She however kissed the movie-making industry goodbye after her marriage.
Lere Paimo, also known as Eda Onile Ola, is a talented actor who has paid his dues in the movie industry. The veteran Yoruba movie star who has been in the movie circle for over five and a half decades has many awards for his great performances on stage and screen, including the award of the national honours of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
Paimo, 81, earned his moniker after a beatific portrayal of one of his numerous leading roles.
Motivated by the acting prowess of legends like Duro Ladipo (M.O.N) and Oyin Adejobi, both of blessed memories, Paimo’s first role on stage was as Chief Bisa, a comedian in the play Obamoro, but he got his major break-through role in the epic feature Ogbori-Elemoso.
He recently explained why he stopped acting. His words: “Firstly, I travelled abroad for some time and when I came back, some of our junior colleagues said they created a new association called TAMPAN so they stopped inviting us for jobs.
“They said they are supporting a particular person but they don’t know that whoever blocks one’s way of survival has done great damage. I can’t curse them because they are all our children. That is why you have not been seeing me in the movies. More so, we cannot be in some of the movies they produce these days due to their script; we can’t be a party to such movies. I have been in my space and God has been faithful in every way.”
Charles Okafor is recognised as one of the veteran actors in Nollywood as well. He is one who has contributed immensely to the growth of the industry across the board.
He joined the industry in 1995 and rose to fame in 1996 after starring in the Nollywood blockbuster, Domitilla. The movie attracted him to movie directors and producers in Nigeria.
In 1999, Okafor became a global venture after starring in another blockbuster movie, End of the Wicked. With his role in the movie, he won an award for Best Actor in Nigeria at the AMAA.
He quit acting after being ordained as a pastor.
Nkeru Sylvanus is a famous Nollywood actress who was known for her ability to cry in movies. She has acted in more than 150 movies, playing minor and leads roles before she delved into politics.
Having joined the industry in the late 90s, she rose to fame after starring in the Nollywood tragic movie, A Cry For Help, where she played the role of an orphan who was being maltreated by her step mother. In 2003, she starred in the Nollywood blockbuster epic movie Egg of Life, a movie that earned her an award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
Known for always playing comical roles, Kunle Makinde Tokunbo, otherwise known as Dejo Tunfulu is one character that Yoruba film lovers will never forget in a hurry.
As a household name, Dejo Tunfulu started acting in 1987 when he featured in Theatre Omode on NTA channel 7. He however became famous
Dejo, a popular Yoruba comic actor rose to stardom many years ago with his unique style of comedy. In most of his movies, he played the role of an imbecile and a stammerer, who does funny things to make people laugh.
Although, he no longer feature in movies, he remains unforgettable.
Hanks Anuku is a legendary Nollywood actor known for his villain and hitman role in movies. He joined the movie-making industry in 1999 and rose to fame in 2000 after starring in the Nollywood blockbuster movie, Senator.
Anuku used to be the go-to guy when producers needed a perfectly bad boy in a movie. Trailed by personal controversies and alleged nonchalant attitude while on location, Anuku has gradually faded out of the movie scene.
Babatunde Omidina aka Baba Suwe began acting in 1971 but came into the limelight after he featured in a movie titled, Omolasan. He became more popular after he featured in Iru Esin, produced by Olaiya Igwe in 1997.
He featured and produced several Nigerian movies, including Baba Jaiye Jaiye, a movie that featured Funke Akindele and Femi Adebayo, the son of the veteran actor Adebayo Salami.
In 2011, he was enmeshed in a cocaine trafficking scandal by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), an allegation that was described as false and defamatory by the ruling of the Lagos high court.
His career took a downward spiral since the infamous cocaine trafficking scandal.
Speaking of his ordeals at the time, Baba Suwe said he has not been getting invitations for movie roles, as he cried out for financial help over his deteriorating health condition.