Justus Esiri (20 November 1942 â€" 19 February 2013) was a veteran
award-winning Nigerian actor, generally considered to be one of the
pillars of Nollywood with an acting career that goes way back to the
1960s. He came into prominence for his role in popular Nigerian
Television Authority TV-series The Village Headmaster and the film
adaptation of Chinua Achebe's book Things Fall Apart. He won Best
Actor award at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards post-humously for
his role in Assassins Practice and was also honoured as the inaugural
recipient of the "Goodluck Jonathan Lifetime Achievement award" at the
2013 Nollywood Movies Awards. The Nigerian government honoured him
with several National honours with the highest being an Officer of the
Order of the Niger, OON for his contribution to the development of
Film-Making in Nigeria. He is the father of popular Mavin Records
Musician Dr Sid.Justus was born on 20 November 1942 in Oria-Abraka,
Delta State. He then proceeded to Effurun and attended Urhobo College,
Bendel State. He left Nigeria for Germany for his higher education.
Institutions he attended in Germany included Maximillan University,
Munich, German(1964), Prof. Weners Institute of Engineering, West
Berlin (1967) and the Ahrens School of Performing Arts (1968). While
in Europe he began his acting career. He was working as a German
translator for voice of Nigeria in Germany when he received an
invitation home from the Nigerian Government to star in "The Village
Headmaster" which he accepted.Esiri died in hospital in Lagos on 19
February 2013 from complications of diabetes. A tribute night,
organized by the Actors Guild of Nigeria, was held at the National
Stadium on 8 April 2013. Mass was at St. Jude Catholic Church in
Mafoluku, Lagos, on 9 April 2013, and a Service of Songs was conducted
in Warri the following day. His body was then taken to its final
resting place in his hometown of Abraka. Several government officials
and entertainment personalities were present at his funeral.
award-winning Nigerian actor, generally considered to be one of the
pillars of Nollywood with an acting career that goes way back to the
1960s. He came into prominence for his role in popular Nigerian
Television Authority TV-series The Village Headmaster and the film
adaptation of Chinua Achebe's book Things Fall Apart. He won Best
Actor award at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards post-humously for
his role in Assassins Practice and was also honoured as the inaugural
recipient of the "Goodluck Jonathan Lifetime Achievement award" at the
2013 Nollywood Movies Awards. The Nigerian government honoured him
with several National honours with the highest being an Officer of the
Order of the Niger, OON for his contribution to the development of
Film-Making in Nigeria. He is the father of popular Mavin Records
Musician Dr Sid.Justus was born on 20 November 1942 in Oria-Abraka,
Delta State. He then proceeded to Effurun and attended Urhobo College,
Bendel State. He left Nigeria for Germany for his higher education.
Institutions he attended in Germany included Maximillan University,
Munich, German(1964), Prof. Weners Institute of Engineering, West
Berlin (1967) and the Ahrens School of Performing Arts (1968). While
in Europe he began his acting career. He was working as a German
translator for voice of Nigeria in Germany when he received an
invitation home from the Nigerian Government to star in "The Village
Headmaster" which he accepted.Esiri died in hospital in Lagos on 19
February 2013 from complications of diabetes. A tribute night,
organized by the Actors Guild of Nigeria, was held at the National
Stadium on 8 April 2013. Mass was at St. Jude Catholic Church in
Mafoluku, Lagos, on 9 April 2013, and a Service of Songs was conducted
in Warri the following day. His body was then taken to its final
resting place in his hometown of Abraka. Several government officials
and entertainment personalities were present at his funeral.
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