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20 Popular Nollywood Actors Who Are Missing In Nollywood Industry
Who are the Nollywood actors who stopped acting? – Celebrities are people who always want to stay in touch with their fan base
Who are the Nollywood actors who stopped acting? – Celebrities are people who always want to stay in touch with their fan base all over the world, but these Nollywood actors have disappeared from the screen, They have stopped acting for one reason or another when in fact, have been in the spotlight for a large part of their lives.
Nollywood actors have a major fan base that cuts across different social and economic standings. These people are loved by the vast majority population who are interested in their public life and have come to have a devotion to them always wanting to know the latest about their lives.
In this article, we will list see popular Nollywood actors who quit acting. These Nollywood actors who left acting gone from super-stardom to not even making the tabloids. They are the favorites that film audiences have missed and will love to make a comeback to the Nollywood industry.
1. Pete Edochie
Peter Edochie is one of the most popular actors in the history of Nollywood. He has been honored as a veteran actor with Industry Merit Award by Africa Magic and Lifetime Achievement by Africa Film Academy. Edochie started acting and gained prominence more than four decades ago in the 1980s. Although, he has not been seen on screen yet he remains a very popular and influential figure in the industry. Peter has starred in over 80 record-known movies which include one of the best-selling novels adapted into a movie, Things Fall Apart (1987).
2. Osita Iheme
Osita is a popular actor and producer who gained prominence as Pawpaw in the film Aki na Ukwa which was produced in the 90s. He is a very famous actor in Nigeria and has been the viewer’s choice. Pawpaw is a character that most people are familiar with because of his mischievous character and funny demeanor. Although Osita has once again graced the screen after being away for a while with his Welcome To Africa (2023), Aki and Pawpaw (2022), and Christmas in Miami (2021), he however deserves a worthy mention in this list of Nollywood actors who quit acting.
3. Prince Emeka Ani
Emeka Ani is perhaps popular as a movie director but he also doubles as an actor even though he has directed many films, he is one actor that many viewers missed on screen. He entered the Nollywood industry in the year 1989 almost 34 years ago. Emeka may not be an active member of the industry anymore, he has however directed and appeared in many films that people will never forget. Some of these films include Karishika II (1997), Issakaba (2000), and 666 (Beware the End Is at Hand) 1 & 2 (2007) among many other movies he has worked on.
4. Nkem Owoh
Nkem Owoh is a well-known actor whom many know as “Osuofia” after the Osuofia in London where he played the lead role in 2003. Osuofia is an actor and comedian popular for his comedic roles in movies. He is one of the popular Nollywood actors who are missing in the Nollywood industry due to the fact he stopped acting. Additionally, Nkem Owoh has acted in various movies which have made him a face and name to reckon with as he also appeared in the film Things Fall Apart in 1987. Meanwhile, in recent times he has appeared in a series of movies after staying away from the screen for several years. He appeared in the 2018 Lionheart as well as in the 2022 Battle on Buka Street.
5. Olu Jacobs
Olu Jacobs is a very popular Nollywood veteran with over 40 years of experience in acting and in the movie industry both locally and abroad. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most widely respected African actors as well as one of the most influential African actors of all time. Olu Jacobs started acting in 1970 with an acting career spanning over five decades he is truly a legend that movie critics and audiences would love to have graced their screen one more time.
6. John Okafor
Well if you are talking about one of the all-time popular actors in Nigeria, John Okafor is a name that resonates with everyone of all classes. Although many may not know the talented actor by his real name John Okafor, he is however, famous for Mr.Ibu (2004) a movie in which he played the lead role of the same name. Mr. Ibu is a comic actor who is considered to be one of Nigeria’s most talented actors in the Nollywood industry. He has appeared in over 200 movies in his career, although, he has not acted in movies for a while, he however popular on social media and has been used by many Nigerian skit makers in their skits.
7. Tony Umez
Tony Umez is a very popular Nollywood actor who went away from the industry. This talented actor has appeared in over 200 movies which involve Yoruba films and English films. Tony debuted in 1998 although he started acting during his secondary school day and continued even after graduating from the University of Lagos Nigeria. Died Wretched a 1998 movie which he acted in launched him into fame and since then has become a popular face on the screen but decided to stop acting as he has not appeared in any recent production.
8. Amaechi Muonagor
Amaechi Muonagor is a Nollywood actor who doubles as a producer known for comic movies. He has appeared in many movies as well as produced many. Amaechi has also won awards to celebrate his talent and has been nominated for many other awards. On the other hand, he started his career after working for NAN (News Agency of Nigeria) in 1989 during his youth service. He has however been away from the movie screen, which made him one of the Nollywood actors who stopped acting.
9. Kenneth Okonkwo
Kenneth Okonkwo is one of the popular Nollywood celebrities who quit acting. As he is known as an actor, he is also a lawyer and politician who claims affiliation with the Labour Party. Additionally, Kenneth won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Special Recognition of Pillars of Nollywood. Although, when he started acting is not known, however, his first known movie is Living in Bondage which was produced in the year 1992. Keneth Okonkwo has gone to appear in movies every year since that time in 2019 except for the years 2002, 2010, 2013, and 2014. He is a popular actor whom many have missed having on the screen.
10. Bob Manuel
Bob Manuel is an accomplished actor who has not only appeared in many films but has also won many awards that celebrate his talent and contribution to the Nollywood industry. As an actor, director, producer, and politician Bob Manuel has contributed to the entertainment industry and has appeared in no less than 30 movies throughout his acting career.
11. Victor Osuagwu
Victor Osuagwu is one of the Nollywood actors who are missing in the Nollywood industry. The actor who had once been president of the Lagos State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria has stayed away from the screen even though he debuted and became popular in the industry in 1997. He has appeared in over 40 films in his career and has served as an ambassador to many brands, but many still miss his movie acting days.
12. Emeka Enyiocha
Emeka Enyiocha is one of the Nollywood actors who stopped acting even after gaining prominence and fame in the industry. He is an actor as well as a director, producer, investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Emeka has acted in movies that many viewers will never forget because of his acting prowess and ability to deliver with fine acting. He is known back in the day for his bad-boy roles in movies.
13. Desmond Elliot
Desmond Elliot is an actor, director, and politician who has been away from screen time. He appeared in many films over 200 movies throughout his career. Elliot’s last known movie is Love Castle which was produced in 2021 and came after another movie in which he appeared in 2018. Before he appeared in his most recent movie, he had been acting in the Nollywood industry as he used to, becoming more and more unpopular with the movie screen while becoming more and more popular in politics.
14. Chiwetalu Agu
Chiwetalu Agu is a household name and has been nominated and awarded many awards and recognition. Additionally, he is recognized as an outstanding actor who has contributed to a great extent to the development of the Nollywood industry. Chiwetalu’s usage of specific language slang, phrases, or clichés in many films has made him unique among many other actors as well and his interpretation of script has made him a television favorite whom many will love to keep seeing on the screen. Meanwhile, Agu appeared in recent movies in 2019 and 2022 but has not been appearing frequently like he used to.
15. Hanks Anuku
Hanks Anuku is one of the legendary Nollywood actors who stopped acting. He gained prominence in the Nigerian film industry for his villain and hitman roles in movies. Hanks debuted in 1999 and gained province acting in various films and blockbusters. Hanks is the perfect actor in mind when looking for a bad boy, criminal, villain, and hitman in films. He has starred in a series of films and as well faded out of movie scenes.
16. Alex Usifo
When talking about actors who are truly talented and are missed on viewers’ screens, Alex Usifo is a worthy mention. He started acting in the year 1984 and gained prominence in 1988 even before the establishment of the Nollywood industry. Alex is always portrayed as a villain in movies which he does portray excellently which has earned him tons of awards and recognising internationally, aside from other awards he has won locally. His last known film which he starred in is the Enakhe which was produced in 2020.
17. Gentle Jack
Gentle Jack was a prominent actor in the Nollywod industry before disappeared from from acting. He has featured in many movies, contributing to the growth and development of the Nigerian movie industry. His film has been listed as one of the most memorable movie characters in Nigeria. Gentle Jack is often portrayed in the film as a strong warrior or defender and sometimes as a villain. He is one of the Nollywood actors who stopped acting.
18. Pat Attah
Pat Attah is a popular Nigerian actor who rose to fame in 1994 after starring in the “Glamour Girls” in the same year. Aside from acting, the brilliant actor also doubles as a model and musician, a side of his career that he happily embraces. However, Pat Attah, even after the fame he enjoyed in the industry, acted alongside some of the industry’s best before he faded away. Pat is a face viewers would love to see again on the movie screen.
19. Emeka Ike
Emeka Ike was a very influential and talented Nollywood actor before saying bye-bye to his acting days. He is one of the most talented actors the Nollywood industry has produced and has made a considerable impact before he stopped acting. Emeka has starred in some of the best Nollywood of the century and has appeared in nothing less than 30 movies in his career. He is one of the actor’s fans and the movie audience would like to see him on screen one more time to grace the beauty industry.
20. Clems Ohameze
Clems Ohameze is a veteran actor who started acting in the year 1995. His numerous contribution to the Nollywood industry has distinguished him as a prominent figure in the industry. Clems has acted in over 500 movies though he left the industry for a while, he however, came back to the industry in 2010 but has not been since active. He is one of the Nollywood actors who stopped acting in the industry for one reason or another.