Nollywood Stars Who Died Of Cancer: Ogogo, Alexx Ekubo, Others

Tributes and condolence messages have flooded social media following the demise of veteran Nollywood actor cum filmmaker Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who died at the age of 66 after a battle with stage-four cancer.

Naija News recalls that days before Ogogo’s death, his children, Kira and Haleemah, disclosed that their father had been diagnosed with stage four cancer and appealed for medical assistance.

Apart from Ogogo, there are other Nollywood actors whose deaths were linked to different forms of cancer.

1. Alexx Ekubo: The talented movie star died on May 11, 2026, at the age of 40, at Evercare Hospital from complications arising from advanced metastatic kidney cancer.

The medical condition of Alexx was largely kept away from the public until his death.

Alexx Ekubo was known for films including Weekend Getaway, Lagos Cougars, The Bling Lagosians, Omo Ghetto: The Saga and A Sunday Affair.

2. Stella Ikwuegbu: The veteran actress died on June 16, 2024, after battling leg cancer.

Movie producer, Stanley Nwoko, announced Stella’s death at the time and paid tribute to her contribution to the Nigerian film industry.

Ikwuegbu was known for playing motherly and elderly characters in numerous Nollywood productions.

3. Tom Njemanze: Veteran Nollywood actor, Tom Njemanze, died in July 2025 at the age of 75 after battling prostate cancer.

Before his death, Njemanze appealed to the public for financial assistance in a video shared online.

Njemanze became popular through his performances in films including Issakaba, Osuofia in London, Pounds and Dollars, Brain Box and Twin Brothers.

4. Karibi Fubara: Nollywood actor cum producer, Karibi Fubara, died on December 15, 2021, following a battle with kidney cancer.

In 2020, Fubara disclosed that doctors had discovered a large, mid-stage kidney tumour. He later underwent surgery to remove about 90 per cent of it but died about 19 months after the process.

5. Sadiq Daba: Veteran actor cum broadcaster, Sadiq Daba, died on March 3, 2021, after battling leukaemia and prostate cancer.

Before his death, Daba received treatment in Nigeria and abroad following financial support from well-wishers.

He became widely known for his role in the television series Cockcrow at Dawn. He also played Inspector Waziri in Kunle Afolayan’s October 1, a performance that earned him the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor.