{"id":9704,"date":"2025-09-11T14:49:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T14:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/9704\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T14:49:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T14:49:11","slug":"nollywood-actors-who-used-to-be-famous-and-what-they-do-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/9704\/","title":{"rendered":"Nollywood Actors Who Used to Be Famous and What They Do Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

At different periods in Nollywood, certain names commanded screens, conversations and viewers\u2019 imaginations. They were the faces we couldn\u2019t escape, leading men who defined the era of home videos, shaped archetypes, and carried blockbusters on their shoulders.<\/p>\n

From drama kings and romantic stars to comic reliefs and rugged villains, they ushered Nollywood into mainstream popularity across Africa and beyond. But as the industry evolved, so did some of these once-prominent actors who quietly stepped back from the spotlight.<\/p>\n

This list revisits ten Nollywood actors who were once household names and tracks where life has taken them since their peak screen moments. Some have gracefully transitioned into completely new careers, others have remained in the creative space, and a few have simply chosen quieter lives, far removed from fame and entertainment.<\/p>\n

Here are 10 Nollywood actors who once had the spotlight and where they are now.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: Be one of Nollywood\u2019s most charismatic actors<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Echedoh in Irretractable Mistake<\/p>\n

Now: In politics<\/p>\n

Bob-Manuel rose during Nollywood\u2019s early home-video boom and became the go-to actor for both lead and high-impact supporting roles in the 2000s. He later expanded into directing and producing in the 2010s and has even received lifetime and industry recognitions since then.<\/p>\n

In 2022, he was appointed by Anambra State governor Chukwuma Soludo as a special adviser on entertainment, leisure and tourism. That move formalised his shift toward public service.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: Be Nollywood\u2019s \u2018moralist\u2019<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Eddy in The Evil Inside Me<\/p>\n

Now: A film director and church minister<\/p>\n

Charles Okafor was a popular face in classic Nollywood dramas like Domitila and Computer Girls, before he moved his main focus to projects with moral and religious themes in the late 2010s.<\/p>\n

Since then, Charles has taken fewer on-screen parts to concentrate on directing, public speaking, ministry and advocacy. In a recent sit-down episode of Selahmediate Podcast<\/a>, he stated that while he\u2019s deeply involved in Christian work and faith-based outreach, he remains a filmmaker, contributing behind the scenes to the industry that gave him a platform.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: Be the face of modern Nollywood<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Angel in Missing Angel<\/p>\n

Now: He\u2019s into politics<\/p>\n

There are dozens of popular Nollywood movies with Desmond Elliot as the leading man. He was that huge. He built a high-profile acting and directing career from the 2000s to the 2010s.Then in 2014, he declared his interest in politics.<\/p>\n

By 2015, he had become active in politics. That year, he won a Lagos Assembly seat and was re-elected in 2023, representing Surulere, transforming his public identity into an actor-turned-politician.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: Be one of the early popular English-Yoruba actors<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Father Stephanus in Cross My Sin<\/p>\n

Now: An entrepreneur<\/p>\n

Femi Ogedengbe was a familiar face in Nollywood during the late 1990s and 2000s, often appearing in Yoruba and English-language films where he carved a niche as a versatile supporting actor. He was a consistent performer who became part of the wave of actors who kept Nollywood buzzing during its VHS and early VCD era.<\/p>\n

However, Ogedengbe eventually stepped away from Nollywood. Citing frustrations with the industry, particularly issues of exploitation and lack of financial reward, he relocated to the United States. He once stated that he worked in private security when he landed in the Land of the Free. Now, he\u2019s a businessman there.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: One of the stars of early Nollywood<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Andy in Living in Bondage<\/p>\n

Now: A lawyer and public affairs analyst<\/p>\n

Kenneth Okonkwo was a star of early Nollywood landmarks, became a household name after Living in Bondage (1994), and was a bankable leading man in films of the 1990s and 2000s. He\u2019s known for a wide variety of roles across a long list of movies and television soap operas like Ripples.<\/p>\n

In subsequent years, he has remained publicly visible as a political commentator and participant. He\u2019s popularly known for working for the Labour Party and presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 general elections.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: Be a Nollywood \u2018fine boy\u2019 actor<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Mike in Tempted<\/p>\n

Now: He\u2019s a senior pastor<\/p>\n

Jimmy Odukoya was an emerging Nollywood actor in the late 2010s and 2020s. He acted in movies and series such as Crazy Grannies, Husbands of Lagos and had a role in The Woman King.<\/p>\n

For many years, he balanced acting with ministry. But after the passing of his father, he took on senior leadership at Fountain of Life Church in 2023, stepping back from Nollywood to focus on God\u2019s work.<\/p>\n

6. McMorris \u201cTerror D\u2019Archangel\u201d Ndubueze<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: Nollywood\u2019s bad boy<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Terror D\u2019Archangel in War Game<\/p>\n

Now: He\u2019s a medical doctor<\/p>\n

The actor was widely remembered for cult and tough-guy roles and popularly known in the industry with the stagename Terror D\u2019Archangel.<\/p>\n

However, McMorris Ndubueze has since left the entertainment industry and has become a medical doctor in the United States. His career change is part of a larger trend of Nigerians relocating abroad for new professional opportunities, AKA, Japa.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: Be Nollywood\u2019s action man<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Ebube in Issakaba<\/p>\n

Now: He\u2019s a university lecturer<\/p>\n

Sam Dede began his acting career in 1995 and gained prominence for his role in the movie Ijele. He is also well-known by the nickname Ebube, which he earned from his lead role in Issakaba, an action movie about fighting crime, that became a cultural touchstone in Nollywood. Dede is often associated with \u201ctough guy\u201d or action-hero roles, showcasing a physical and intense screen presence.<\/p>\n

These days, Sam Dede is a rarity in movies. He\u2019s now mostly behind the scenes as a director and an academic lecturing students and mentoring younger actors.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: Be one of Nollywood\u2019s popular comedic actors<\/p>\n

Best known for: Playing Adindu in Onye-Eze<\/p>\n

Now: He\u2019s an events host and MC<\/p>\n

Victor Osuagwu is a veteran Nigerian actor and comedian widely known for his comical, often mischievous characters. In 2013, he assumed a leadership position within the industry and became president of the Lagos State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). After he left the position, he appeared less in movies and industry glitz.<\/p>\n

But if you think his absence from TV means he has been inactive, you\u2019re wrong \u2014 Victor Osuagwu is now an MC, event manager and owner of Victor Osuagwu Feed A Child Foundation.<\/p>\n

10. Zack Orji<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Used to: A power figure in old Nollywood<\/p>\n

Best known for: playing Obidike in Last Warning<\/p>\n

Now: A pastor and public speaker<\/p>\n

Zack Orji is considered a veteran in Nollywood. He began his career in 1991 with his debut film, Unforgiven Sin. He\u2019s also known for his roles in classic films like Glamour Girls (1994) and Blood Money (1997). Orji also once served as the national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).<\/p>\n

In 2012, he took a step back from acting and the limelight after Bishop Lawrence Osagie ordained him a pastor. Since then, he has been preaching in and out of Nigeria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At different periods in Nollywood, certain names commanded screens, conversations and viewers\u2019 imaginations. They were the faces we…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9705,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[458,146,85,46],"class_list":["post-9704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-celebrities","tag-entertainment","tag-il","tag-israel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9704\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}