By John Obi
A popular actor in the Nollywood film Industry, Junior Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as ‘Jnr Pope’, on Wednesday lost his life alongside 3 other actors in a boat mishap in Anambra state.
According to Samuel Olatunji, a filmmaker, who took to his Instagram page to disclose the sad development , the deceased with three others were involved in the accident on Anam River while going to a movie location.
Olatunji wrote “Junior Pope passes on💔.
“Sad day for Nollywood. Four actors including Jnr Pope fell into Anam River on their way to location and their bodies have been recovered.
“What a sad day for Nollywood. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Multiple sources confirmed this sad development to us.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Junior Pope, in 2006, joined the Nollywood industry and started attending movie auditions as well as acting minor characters 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.
The deaths of the actors occurred when the industry was yet to recover from the deaths of other actors and actresses.
Some of the members who have passed on in 2024 include veteran comic actor,John Okafor AKA Mr Ibu, Amaechi Muonagor and only a few days ago, Actress Adejumoke Aderonmu of the popular ” Jennifer Diary”series
