The Nigerian film industry has endured a heartbreaking series of losses in 2026, as the country mourns the passing of veteran icons and rising stars alike. These individuals were more than just performers. They were the architects of our cultural narrative, leaving behind a void that resonates deeply with families, colleagues and fans across the nation.
From the pioneering era of early television to the vibrant modern landscape of Yoruba and English-language cinema, these artists crafted characters that became part of daily life. Their contributions helped transform Nollywood into a global force, ensuring their storytelling remains woven into Nigerian entertainment for generations to come.
As we reflect on their impact, we honour the memory of those who helped define our screens. Here are the Nollywood stars we lost in 2026 and the enduring creative legacies they leave behind.
Ajara Lasisi (Aunty Ajara)
Ajara Lasisi, popularly known as Aunty Ajara, died on February 5, 2026, after a prolonged illness. Her brother, Ridwan Lasisi, confirmed the news. She was known for comic and supporting roles in Yoruba-language productions including Gingerrr, Queen Lateefah and Isiti. She was buried the same day in accordance with Islamic rites.
Her legacy is a quiet but essential one. Successful Nollywood films depend as much on memorable supporting performers as on the major stars. Aunty Ajara delivered the laughter and small human details that made scenes feel complete. Those moments still land whenever the films play.
Bamidele Oluwatope (Okemesi)
Comic actor and content creator Bamidele Oluwatope, known as Okemesi, died on February 24, 2026. He built a following through energetic performances that mixed English, Yoruba and his Ekiti dialect. Film credits included Dearest, Aborisade, Mebamu, The Order, Arewa Okunrin and Eyan Ni Mi. Reports linked his death to complications after a hospital stay.
His legacy lives strongest among fans of Yoruba comedy. Okemesi showed how regional language and humour could create a distinctive identity that felt both local and widely shareable. In an industry that sometimes chases uniform stardom, he proved that a clear, rooted voice still cuts through.
Davis Offor (Clarus)
Veteran actor Davis Offor died on April 6, 2026, at the age of 85. For generations of Nigerian television viewers he was Clarus Mgbeojikwe, the mischievous houseboy in the classic comedy series The New Masquerade. He shared the screen with performers such as James Iroha, who played Gringory, and helped define an entire era of local TV comedy.
His death marked the loss of a living link to that foundational period. The Clarus character remains part of Nigeria’s television nostalgia and demonstrates how a well-played supporting role can stay memorable decades after a programme first aired. Offor’s work still draws recognition from people who grew up with the show and from younger viewers discovering it later.
Solomon Akiyesi
Veteran actor and producer Solomon Akiyesi died on April 26, 2026, in Abuja. The Actors Guild of Nigeria confirmed he passed peacefully in his sleep. He had spent more than two decades appearing in Nollywood productions and building a steady reputation as both performer and producer.
His legacy is the kind that rarely makes the loudest headlines yet keeps the industry functional. Akiyesi belonged to the generation of reliable screen professionals whose consistent presence allowed bigger stories to be told. The body of work he left behind is part of the quiet infrastructure of Nigerian film.
Oby Kechere (Madam Koi Koi)
Cecilia Oby Kechere, popularly known as Madam Koi Koi, died on April 27, 2026, after a prolonged illness. The Directors Guild of Nigeria announced her death and described her as a respected member of the filmmaking community. She joined Nollywood in 2001, made her acting debut in August Meeting, and became widely known for playing Ms Koi Koi in the comedy classic Aki na Ukwa. She also worked as a producer and director across more than two decades.
Her legacy stretches beyond one unforgettable character. Kechere showed how an entertainer could contribute to the industry from several sides of the camera. The laughter she created in Aki na Ukwa still travels, while her producing and directing work stands as evidence of a fuller creative life.
Alexx Ekubo
Alexx Ekubo died on May 11, 2026, at the age of 40 following complications from advanced metastatic kidney cancer. His family confirmed the cause. He first gained attention as first runner-up in the 2010 Mr Nigeria competition and went on to become one of the recognisable faces of contemporary English-language Nollywood. Key films included A Man for the Weekend, The Blood Covenant, Devil in Agbada and Afamefuna: An Nwa-Boi Story.
His legacy is that of an actor who helped define a polished, modern era of Nigerian screen stardom. Ekubo brought leading-man presence and public visibility at a time when Nollywood was expanding its reach. The performances and the following he built remain part of the industry’s recent history.
Fesogboye Oyewole (Feso Oyewole)
Veteran Yoruba actor Fesogboye Oyewole, known as Feso Oyewole, died on May 29, 2026. His family confirmed the death. Before acting he had worked as a teacher and unionist. He later spent about 25 years in Yoruba cinema, appearing in and producing films that included Take Me to Maama, State of Emergency and Sakobi.
His legacy is closely tied to the growth of Yoruba-language cinema. Feso belonged to the generation of performers who helped establish indigenous film as a serious and popular part of Nigerian entertainment. That foundation still supports the industry today.
Patrick “Energy” Okoye
Patrick “Energy” Okoye died in May 2026 at the age of 41. He was an actor, theatre practitioner, singer, dancer, choreographer and lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts and Film Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Film appearances included Midnight Love, Old School, Finding a Wife, The Lion, The Jagaban and Over My Dead Body. Colleague Ken Erics was among those who paid public tribute.
His most lasting legacy may be the people he taught and mentored. Okoye’s career demonstrated the living connection between professional entertainment and formal theatre education. Students and younger performers carried pieces of his influence long after any single role ended.
Kola Oyewo
Veteran actor, dramatist and scholar Dr Kola Oyewo died on June 12, 2026, at the age of 80. He began his professional career in 1964 with the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group and later worked with the University of Ife Theatre, collaborating with renowned dramatist Professor Ola Rotimi. He is particularly remembered for his portrayal of Odewale in The Gods Are Not to Blame and Lápítẹ̀ in Saworoide. He also earned postgraduate degrees in drama and combined performance with teaching.
His greatest legacy may be the dual contribution to performance and education. Oyewo was not only an actor who commanded the stage and screen. He was a scholar who helped preserve and pass on Nigeria’s theatrical traditions to the next generation. That combination is rare and still deeply valued.
Taiwo Adeshina (Elegbeje Ado)
Veteran Yoruba actor and filmmaker Taiwo Adeshina, popularly known as Elegbeje Ado, died on June 29, 2026, at age 66 after a brief illness. He spent more than two decades in Yoruba-language cinema and became known for performances in traditional and historical productions. Notable films included Akeke, Oko Abiku, Kadara Mi and Ageku Abela. In his later years he devoted more attention to Christian ministry and gospel filmmaking.
His legacy lies in the contribution to indigenous Nigerian storytelling and in the ability to combine entertainment with personal religious conviction. Adeshina’s path reflects a journey many performers have taken as their public work and private faith began to speak to each other.
Temitope Osoba
Actress and film producer Temitope Osoba died on August 5, 2026, at age 40. She began acting in 2005 with Ijoya and later appeared in Yoruba productions including Ogun Mi, Gucci Girls, Igboro Ti Daru, Ifedolapo and Accident. She had earlier worked as a dancer and went on to produce the film Single Ladies. She had spoken publicly about her battle with breast cancer, undergone treatment and returned to work while advocating for awareness.
Her legacy therefore includes both her contribution to Yoruba cinema and her vulnerability. Osoba’s story sits at the intersection of entertainment and the harder public conversations many still avoid. That honesty remains part of what she left behind.
Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo)
Veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, died on August 23, 2026, at the age of 66 after a battle with stage-four cancer. His daughters had earlier appealed for medical assistance when doctors said they could no longer administer chemotherapy. His career spanned more than four decades as actor, producer and director, and he became one of the most recognisable figures in Yoruba cinema. His remains were taken to Ilaro, Ogun State, for burial rites.
Ogogo’s legacy is the sheer weight of consistency. Few performers root themselves so deeply in an entire language cinema that their absence feels structural. The scale of mourning that followed his death showed how many younger actors and ordinary viewers saw their own screen history reflected in his body of work.
Atinuke Remilekun Kareem
Actress Atinuke Remilekun Kareem died on September 1, 2026, after a battle with breast cancer. The Ogun State chapter of TAMPAN announced the news. Months earlier she had released a video appeal in which she said, “I’m a breast cancer patient. It has been going on for a while. My family has spent a lot of money… Don’t allow me to die this way; I have two young children.” The association later stated that despite efforts and prayers she had “answered the final call.”
Her death, coming so soon after Ogogo’s, left the Yoruba film community reeling once more. Beyond the personal tragedy of a mother of two, it underlined how often illness forces Nollywood professionals into public appeals. The tributes that followed treated her both as a colleague and as another reminder of the cost of inadequate support when serious disease arrives.