Nigerian film star Alexx Ekubo dies from cancer aged 40

Nigerian movie prima Alexx Ekubo has died aft a conflict with cancer, his household has said.

He passed distant connected Monday successful a Lagos backstage infirmary owed to complications from "advanced metastatic kidney cancer", a household connection connected the actor's Instagram leafage said. He was 40 years old.

Ekubo was champion known for his roles successful the Weekend Getaway and the euphony video titled Johnny by Yemi Alade successful 2013. He had won galore awards and accolades for his enactment successful the amusement manufacture and humanitarian efforts.

A subordinate of the Nigerian Guild of Editors told the BBC his decease had near the relation successful shock. Tributes person been pouring successful from fans and friends successful Nigeria's movie industry, known arsenic Nollywood.

Ekubo's household said helium had died aft "a little but courageous battle" and person called for privateness and prayers arsenic they mourn his death.

"Throughout this hard journey, helium bore his symptom with singular strength, unwavering faith, and enduring hope, believing that 1 time his grounds would beryllium shared with the world," the household added.

News astir his decease began to dispersed connected Tuesday with galore fans and colleagues expressing their shock.

"Rest successful Peace Alex," chap histrion and shaper Funke Akindele posted connected societal media.

The brace had acted unneurotic successful the 2020 drama Omo Ghetto - The Saga.

"I tried to scope out. To spot you 1 much clip but conjecture you knew best," she wrote, adding: "You kept telling maine you are fine."

"May your benignant psyche remainder successful bid Alex. Ore mi similar you fondly called me, I volition ever retrieve and cherish the bully times we shared together."

The precocious actor's workfellow and friend, Godwin Nnadiekwe, called the quality of Ekubo's decease heart-breaking.

"Nollywood has mislaid a uncommon soul, and I'm mislaid for words, due to the fact that this wasn't the plan," helium wrote connected his Instagram.

Filmmaker Lancelot Imasuen - who gave Ekubo his archetypal movie relation - described his passing arsenic "devastating and unbelievable", Nigeria's Vanguard quality tract reports.

Ekubo himself had stepped distant from societal media, with his past station appearing successful December 2024, sparking interest for his health.

Born 10 April, 1986 successful Nigeria's Rivers State, the histrion received a fig of accolades for his work.

The Nollywood prima made his acting debut successful the 2005 production, Sinners successful the House.

He graduated with a grade successful instrumentality from the University of Calabar and broke into stardom successful 2010 aft competing successful the Mr Nigeria competition.

In 2013, helium won Best Supporting Actor successful the Best of Nollywood Awards for his relation arsenic Andre Dikeh successful Weekend Getaway.

Ekubo had received 9 awards during his career, including Best of Nollywood's Best Actor of the twelvemonth (2016) and Best Lead Actor (2022).

Nigeria's First Lady gave him a Special Recognition Award successful 2018 for his publication and improvement of the country's amusement industry.

In 2020, helium was inducted into the UN's Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) nether 40, for his efforts successful amusement and societal development.

The pursuing year, Ekubo received an honorary doctorate successful arts and civilization from the Institut Supérieur de Communication et de Gestion successful Benin.

"Tonight is precise peculiar and beloved to my bosom due to the fact that it's coming astatine rather a time," helium said astatine the time.

His humanitarian enactment has besides been recognised.

In 2021, helium was fixed the Nigerian National Award of Excellence arsenic the Global Social Giving Actor of the twelvemonth for his foundation work, according to his website.

Ekubo was besides awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Sapio Club - a Nigeria-based assemblage proposing solutions to societal and nationalist issues - for his contributions, including humanitarian work.

He concisely courted contention successful 2021 erstwhile his fiancée, Nigerian-American histrion and exemplary Fancy Acholonu, ended their engagement astir 3 months earlier their wedding.