Segun Arinze Padonou Aina popularly and widely known as Segun Arinze. He is also known as Black Arrow, a nick name he earned after acting in a famous movie “Black Arrow”.
Segun Arinze is a famous Nigerian actor, director, producer, singer and television personality. He was born on the 24th of September, 1965 in Onitsha, Anambra State of Nigeria to a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother. He hails from Badagry in Lagos State.
Segun is one of the strong pillars of Nollywood, the much talked about who is highly gifted, creative and talented in acting and interpreting movie roles. His long years of experience in acting has sorted him out as an actor who can accept any character assigned him by movie directors and producers in Nigeria.
Educational Background
Segun Arinze had his elementary and secondary education in Victory College of Commerce in Ilorin, Kwara State and completed his secondary education in Taba Commercial College in Kaduna State in the northern Nigeria, where he obtained his first and senior school certificates respectively.
He went further to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Arts from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State. Since graduation, he has remained relevant in the Nigerian Movie Industry.
Acting Career
Before joining Nollywood in 1990, Segun was said to have began acting at a young age in his secondary school days in Ilorin, Kwara state where he acted drama series and stage play.
He however rose to popularity after starring in a Blockbuster movie “Black Arrow”. It was this movie that brought him to fame and was subsequently nominated as Best new actor at the African Movie Academy Awards, most promising Act to watch at the Golden Icon Movie Academy Awards. The same hit movie earned him a nick name in the movie industry , “Black Arrow”.
Segun Arinze is a prolific actor. He has starred in over 200 Nollywood movies since in his career including Family On Fire, A Palace in the Stars, Across the Niger, Darkest Night, Fragile Pain, Invasion 1897, Extra Time, Women In Love, Anini, To Love a Thief and several other hit movies too numerous to mention here.
Segun acts alongside veteran Nollywood celebrities like Saint Obi, Sam Dede, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Stephanie Okereke, Jim Iyke, Pete Edochie and other top stars in the movie industry. Again, he is reputed in featuring in action movies, playing the role of criminals like hired assassin, armed robbers in most movies.
His Personal Life
Segun got married to Nollywood actress by name Ann Njemanze and the union is blessed with a daughter named Renny. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in divorce after about two years. He again married in 2010 to another woman, Julie Arinze who has given birth to 3 kids.
In August 31, 2015, Segun revealed in an interview that he has six children from 3 different mothers. This is wonderful!
Segun is a versatile young man and was said to have had a thriving music career having produced a debut album, “Dreams” in the year 1992. He was also the former national President of Actors of Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
His Awards
Segun’s awards are many. He is a proud recipient of several prestigious awards including:
- Best actor in a leading role at the African Viewers Choice Awards.
- Best actor in supporting role at the African Movie Academy Awards.
- Special recognition award at the City People Entertainment Awards.
- Most Prominent actor in Niger at the best of Nollywood Awards and others.
Segun’s Net Worth
Segun Arinze is rated one of the richest, most talented, most creative and most influential topmost Nollywood actors in Nigeria with a net worth of about $1.5 million dollars.