Nollywood Mourns the Loss of Actor Junior Pope Odonwodo

Benjamin Njoku provides the report for Vanguard Nigeria, with further collaboration from the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, who shared the heartbreaking news on his Instagram page in the early hours of today.

Doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Asaba, Delta State, attempted to resuscitate Junior Pope but confirmed his passing around 9:30 PM. The actor's demise occurred while he was filming in Asaba, adding to the string of tragedies that have befallen Nollywood this year.

Junior Pope, a renowned Nollywood actor, model, and philanthropist, was born on May 7, 1984, in Bamenda, Cameroon, to Mr. and Mrs. Luke Odonwodo. Despite his Cameroonian roots, he completed his education in Nigeria, graduating from the University of Nigeria Nsukka with a degree in Accountancy.

His acting career, which began in 2006, saw him appear in numerous movies, often portraying roles as guards and servants. He rose to prominence after starring in the blockbuster movie "Secret Adventures" directed by Tchidi Chikere in 2007. Over the years, he featured in over 100 movies, earning recognition such as the Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria award at the Entertainment Factory Awards in 2010.

The circumstances surrounding Junior Pope's untimely passing involve a tragic accident. He and four other crew members were involved in an accident while riding a boat, leaving the movie location on Wednesday, April 10. The Nollywood community mourns his loss, with fellow actors expressing shock and grief over the incident.

In response to the tragedy, Emeka Rollas, the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, has suspended all movies involving riverine areas and boat riding. Additionally, actors have been barred from participating in any movie produced by Adanma Luke, the producer of the movie "The Other Side Of Life" in which Junior Pope was featuring.

As investigations continue and the industry mourns the loss of one of its own, Junior Pope's legacy as a talented actor and philanthropist will endure. Ma