Top Nollywood Actors and Actresses That Died in 2023

The Nigerian Movie Industry (Nollywood) is indeed a big industry. It is rated the third biggest movie industry in the world.

Like any other industry or organization in the world, Nollywood is made up of talents who have contributed immensely to its growth and development. Sadly, a number of these talents have died throwing the industry into mourning.

 

Below are top Nollywood actors and actress who have died in 2023.

1. Ernest Asuzu

Ernest Asuzu was a veteran Nollywood actor. Until his sad end, he was one of the strong pillars of Nollywood who featured in several movies.

An Igbo decent, Ernest Asuzu died on evening of Tuesday January 26, 2023. He was said to have fainted on Tuesday evening and never woke up by his wife, Jennifer Asuzu.

2. Jim Lawson Maduike

Jim Lawson Maduike is another veteran Nollywood actor who died in 2023.

He hails from Imo State in south eastern Nigeria. He joined the movie industry in 2004 and has since starred in several Nollywood movies taking exceptional roles.

The thespian was reported dead after complaining of severe body pains on January 9, 2023.

3. Folake Aremu (Orisabunmi)

Folake Aremu, also fondly called (Orisabunmi) was a veteran NollywoodYoruba actress who died on January 5, 2023.

The veteran actress hailed from Olla in Kwara State.  She died at the age of 60 in her residence in Ibadan, Oyo State. Her death came four months after the death of her ex-husband, Jimoh Aliu, also popularly known as Aworo under whose tutelage she rose to prominence in the movie industry.

4. Sadiq Daba

Sadiq Daba is also made the list of Nollywood actors who died in 2023. Until his sad end, he was a veteran broadcaster. He was reported dead on Wednesday March 3, 2023 after a long battle with leukemia and prostate cancer.

His death had since received the confirmation of the family members.

 

5. Bruno Iwuoha

Bruno Iwuoha is another Nollywood Veteran actor who died in 2023. He hails from Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

The white haired Nollywood actor would be remembered for his Kingly or Priestly role in the industry. He died at the age of 68 years on Friday April 10, 2023, after a prolonged battle with diabetes.

He is survived by his wife and six children.

6. David Mela

David Mela was a fast-rising Nollywood actor. He met his untimely death from an undisclosed ailment on January 11, 2023.

The young actor was said to have been passing through a hard time in his life as revealed by a post before his untimely death.

7. Dan Nkoloagu

Dan Nkoloagu is another top Nollywood actor who died on January 22, 2023.

He was until his death, a strong pillar and one of founding members of Nollywood. He will surely be remembered for playing priestly or native doctors role in movies, especially in most Igbo movies.

Nkoloagu died at the age of 83.

8. Victor Decker

Victor Decker was a famous Nollwood actor who died in 2023. He was found dead in his apartment on Monday February 15, 2023, by his neighbours at about 5 pm.

Decker’s neighbours was reported to have broke the door to his apartment and sadly found his lifeless decomposed body in his sitting room.

The major cause of his death is not known. He was aged, 72.

9. Abiodun Aleja

Abiodun Aleja also made one of the top Nollywood actors who gave up the ghost in 2023.

Aleja took ill and was admitted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where he died.

Until his sad death, Aleja was very active in the Nollywood with several movies to his credit. He featured prominently with veteran actors with Kunle Afolayan and Tunde Kelani in the industry.

Abiodun Aleja died on Friday, May 21, 2023.

10. Sound Sultan

Popular rapper Lanre Fasasi, also widely known as Sound Sultan died on Sunday July 11, 2023.

The multi-talented musician and actor lost his battle to cancer of the throat at 44, throwing the Nigerian entertainment industry into mourning.

Key players in the Nigerian entertainment including musicians, comedians and veteran actors described Sound Sultan’s death as a big loss to the industry and the entire country.

Sound Sultan was a man widely described as selfless and an inspiration to the younger generation.

11. Rachel Oniga

Rachel Oniga’s death is the latest and a big blow in Nollywood.

‘Owo Blow’ actress, as she was fondly called, was a veteran actress, whose acting career began in 1993. Rachel died at about 10 pm, according to family sources on Friday July, 30, 2023.

Oniga, a native of Eku, Delta State, was born in Ebutte-Metta, Lagos on May 23, 1957.

She was shot to limelight after popular role in a Yoruba family drama, Owo Blow. She also featured in other hit movies and drama series like The Wedding Party, 30 Days in Atlanta, Doctor Bello and the popular Wale Adenuga’s television series, Super Story and many others.

In summary, these talents made wonderful contributions to the growth and development of Nollywood. Their efforts will surely not be vain as their numerous fans and indeed Nigeria wish them perfect rest in peace.