The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Emeka Rollas, has confirmed the death of Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope.
The Nigerian entertainment industry was thrown into a state of confusion following reports that the actor who had reportedly died in a boat mishap on Wednesday afternoon, was revived.
The late actor and five of his colleagues were coming back from a movie location in a boat when they fell into River Niger in Anambra on Wednesday.
Rollas took to his instagram page on Thursday to disclose the sad development as he wrote, “It is so so sad that our joy was shortlived.
“My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.
“God knows the best. We finally lost him,” he said.
Junior Pope’s untimely passing leaves behind his wife and three children.
The death of Junior Pope is the latest in a string of tragedies that has hit Nollywood this year.
Last month, ace thespians, such as Mr. Ibu and Sisi Quadri passed on.
Junior Pope joined the Nollywood industry in 2006 and started attending movie auditions and acting as a minor character in movies.
He usually played the role of a bodyguard, palace attendant, and servant in movies.
In 2007, he rose to fame after acting in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Secret Adventures”, a movie directed by Tchidi Chikere.
He acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies which include: “Secret Adventures”, “Mad sex”, “Bitter Generation”, “Vengeance of Bullet”, “The Cat”, “The Generals”, “Wrong Initiation” among others
In 2010, he won the award for Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards.
He is known for acting criminal, villain, armed robber, militant and hitman roles in movies alongside Emma Ehumadu, Sylvester Madu, Zubby Michael, Jim Iyke, Alaso Wariboko, Gentle Jack, Hanks Anuku, Jerry Amilo.
Other awards he won include Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, among others.
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