Cancer has taken the lives of at least 10 Nollywood actors and actresses over the past 17 years, with the most recent death occurring on Sunday when veteran Yoruba filmmaker Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, died at the age of 66.
Ogogo’s family disclosed shortly before his death that he had stage-four cancer. His daughter, Kira Taiwo, later confirmed his death during an emotional live video.
His passing places him among a group of Nigerian screen stars whose careers ended after battles with cancer, including leukaemia, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer and endometrial cancer.
The deaths have cut across generations of the film industry, from veterans who spent decades acting and making films to younger performers whose careers ended much earlier.
Ogogo and Ekubo among recent losses
Ogogo had spent decades in the Yoruba film industry as an actor, filmmaker, producer and director. He was known for appearances in productions including Owo Blow, Omo Ghetto and Aníkúlápó.
His family said he had been diagnosed with stage-four cancer shortly before his death. The particular type of cancer was not disclosed.
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Also, earlier this year, actor Alexx Ekubo died on May 11 at the age of 40 after battling advanced metastatic kidney cancer.
His family said he died at Evercare Hospital from complications arising from the illness. Ekubo was known for films such as Weekend Getaway, Lagos Cougars, The Bling Lagosians, Omo Ghetto: The Saga and A Sunday Affair.
Unlike some actors whose illnesses became public during treatment, Ekubo’s condition was largely kept away from public view until his death.
Another veteran actor Tom Njemanze died in July 2025 at the age of 75 after battling prostate cancer.
Njemanze, before his death, appeared in videos receiving treatment in hospital as colleagues appealed to the public for financial help. He had become popular through films including Issakaba, Osuofia in London, Pounds and Dollars, Brain Box and Twin Brothers.
Stella Ikwuegbu, also a veteran actress, died on June 16, 2024, after battling what colleagues referred to as leg cancer.
Movie producer Stanley Nwoko announced her death and paid tribute to her years in the Nigerian film industry. Ikwuegbu was widely known for playing motherly and elderly characters in Nollywood productions.
In the same year, Ethel Ekpe died after battling cancer. The specific type was not publicly disclosed.
Ekpe was best known as Segi in Ken Saro-Wiwa’s television comedy series, Basi and Company. Her other screen work included Forever, Sons of the Caliphate, Speak the Word and Heartbeats.
Illnesses that ended careers
The list also includes Karibi Fubara, whose battle with kidney cancer became known to the public in 2020.
Doctors had discovered a large, mid-stage kidney tumour, and he later underwent surgery to remove about 90 per cent of it. He died in December 2021 after a prolonged battle with the disease.
Fubara appeared in productions including God Calling, Smart Money Woman, Castle & Castle, Ratnik and Quam’s Money.
That same year, veteran actress Doris Chima died after battling breast cancer for more than six years. She was 63.
Chima appeared in several Nigerian film and television productions before her illness kept her away from the screen. Her death was confirmed by Emeka Rising Ibe, then Chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in Lagos State.
Also in 2021, actress Ifeyinwa Onwuemene, known as Ify Onwuemene, died after battling stage-four endometrial cancer.
Her colleague, Gloria Anozie-Young, said Onwuemene underwent surgery and several chemotherapy sessions during treatment. She became popular for playing the wife of Sam Loco Efe’s character in the television series Everyday People.
Veteran actor and broadcaster Sadiq Daba died on March 3, 2021, after battling both leukaemia and prostate cancer.
Daba received treatment in Nigeria and abroad after getting financial support from well-wishers. He was widely known for his appearance in the television series Cockcrow at Dawn and for playing Inspector Waziri in Kunle Afolayan’s October 1.
His performance in October 1 earned him the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor.
Aisha Abimbola, popularly known as Omoge Campus, died in Canada in May 2018 after battling breast cancer. She was 47.
The Yoruba actress became popular after appearing in the 2001 film Omoge Campus. She also worked as a movie producer and featured in films including No Pain, No Gain, Awerijaye, So Wrong So Right and Kamson and Neighbours.
The earliest death in the group came in 2009, when veteran actress, producer and director Remi Abiola died in New York after battling cancer. She was 57 and had spent several decades acting and making films.
The deaths show how cancer has affected performers from different periods of Nollywood, including actors whose illnesses were publicly known and others whose diagnoses became known only near the end of their lives.
Ogogo’s death on 23 August, 2026, is the newest loss on that list, ending a career that shook the Nigerian film industry.
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