15 things to know about late Nollywood actor Ogogo

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Veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, amid mourning by his family, fans and colleagues.

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He died at the age of 66 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

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His daughter, Kira Taiwo, confirmed the news in an emotional live video, repeatedly saying, “My daddy is dead.”

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The confirmation came five days after the family dismissed earlier reports of his death as false.

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Here are 15 things to know about the late actor and his films:

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1. He was born in Ogun State

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Taiwo Hassan was born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State.

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He spent his early years there before moving to Lagos, where he pursued his education, learnt a trade and later built his acting career.

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2. Ogogo became more popular than his real name

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While his real name was Taiwo Hassan, he was widely known in many households as Ogogo.

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The screen name became inseparable from his identity and evoked memories of family dramas, traditional stories and moral conflicts in Yoruba films.

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3. He worked as an automobile mechanic

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Before taking up acting full-time, Hassan trained and worked as an automobile mechanic.

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He also spent about 13 years at the Lagos State Water Corporation, combining his government job with acting for several years.

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4. He began acting in 1981

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Ogogo started his acting career in 1981 while still working as a mechanic. He learnt through practical theatre experience and gradually became a fixture in the growing Yoruba film industry. His career spanned more than four decades.

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5. He left his government job in 1994

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After years of balancing both roles, Hassan resigned from the water corporation in 1994 to focus fully on acting.

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The move coincided with the rising popularity of home videos across Nigeria.

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6. He was more than an actor

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Beyond performing, Ogogo worked as a producer, director and screenwriter. He contributed to stories rooted in Yoruba culture, family life, leadership, tradition and social responsibility.

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7. He featured in several memorable productions

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Notable films include Owo Blow, Agbelebu, Omo Ghetto, Omin, Tenant of the House, Bank Alert and Aníkúlápó.

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8. His early film work included writing and producing

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In the mid-1990s, he appeared in and contributed behind the camera to titles such as Agbelebu (1995), Dr Brown (1995, also as writer), Ekun-Ayo (Tears of Joy) (1996, also as writer and producer), and Owo Blow Parts 2 and 3 (1996), in which he played Wole Owolabi.

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9. He played a range of authoritative and dramatic roles

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Across decades, he portrayed characters including Adesina in Omin (2008), Yomi in Elewon (2009), a D.P.O. in Omo Ghetto (2010), Hon. Kasali in Tenant of the House (2019), Alhaji in Amerah (2021), and Grandpa in Bank Alert (2023).

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10. He continued working into the 2020s

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Later credits include IGE – The Unlikely Oil Merchant (2023), in which he played Olalere, and a return as Alaafin Ademuyiwa in Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre (2024).

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11. ‘Aníkúlápó’ introduced him to a new generation

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His role as Alaafin Ademuyiwa in Kunle Afolayan’s 2022 Netflix film, Aníkúlápó, brought him before a younger and wider audience. The production became one of the most discussed Nigerian films of that year.

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12. He earned an award nomination for ‘Aníkúlápó’

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His performance in the film earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. The movie itself received multiple nominations.

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13. He came from a family with a history of twins

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Hassan once disclosed that his mother gave birth to four sets of twins and that he was the only surviving child.

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He also spoke strongly about fatherhood and parental responsibility, insisting that men could not permanently escape their duties to their children.

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14. His final days drew public concern and industry support

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Days before his death, daughters Kira and Haleemah revealed that he was battling stage-four cancer. They sought medical assistance rather than financial donations. Several Nollywood colleagues held a special prayer session for him as his condition worsened.

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15. His career spanned generations of Yoruba cinema

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From the stage and early home-video era to contemporary streaming productions, Ogogo built a career spanning more than four decades and appeared in family dramas, traditional stories and films centred on social and moral themes.

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