Deyemi Okanlawon
Deyemi Okanlawon(ⓘ; born 19 April 1979) is a Nigerian film, television, theatre and voice actor.[1] He is best known for his roles in Omo Ghetto: The Saga,[2] Blood Sisters[3] and King of Boys: The Return of the King.[4] He has been listed as the highest grossing Nollywood actor of 2020 and 2021.[5][6]
Deyemi Okanlawon | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Deyemi Okanlawon | |
| Born | Adeyemi Okanlawon April 19, 1979 Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Education | Chemical Engineering |
| Alma mater | University of Lagos |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2010 – present |
| Website | www |
Early life edit
Okanlawon was born in Lagos,[7] Southwest Nigeria to an Aircraft Engineer father Adeyemi Okanlawon, and Adeyinka Okanlawon a baker and entrepreneur. He had his primary school education at Taikenny Nursery and Primary School in Lagos, and his secondary education at International School, Lagos. He then went on to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos,[7] Lagos, Nigeria. A former banker and sales and marketing executive he also obtained a Certificate in Acting for Film, from the New York Film Academy.[8]
Career edit
Okanlawon had his first experience with acting at the age of 5,[9] when he featured in an ‘end-of-year’ play while in primary school. At the age of 9, Okanlawon featured in a nationally syndicated Television commercial with Kunle Bamtefa. While at the University of Lagos, Okanlawon became an active member of the drama groups Gf(x) (Harvesters Company), Xtreme Reaction and Snapshots (Covenant Christian Centre).[9]
Okanlawon made his featured film debut in the 2010 movie ZR-7,[9] before which he featured in a short film titled A Grain of Wheat. He went on to feature in and co-produce many more short films and by 2012 he had gained notoriety for his numerous appearances in made-for-internet short films and web series including Blink, 6:30pm and Knock Knock. In 2013 he switched careers to focus on acting full-time and has since featured in over 50 film credits, 8 stage credits and has appeared in OLX and GLO Television commercials as well as music videos for Waje and Aramide. He has also had roles in movies such as Greg Odutayo's “Beyond Blood” starring Joseph Benjamin and Kehinde Bankole; Pascal Amanfo's If Tomorrow Never Comes starring Yvonne Nelson,[7] Ishaya Bako's Road To Yesterday starring Genevieve Nnaji and Majid Michel and Pascal Amanfo's No Man’s Land starring Adjetey Anang. He was in NdaniTV's series Gidi Up with OC Ukeje, Titilope Sonuga, Somkele Iyamah and Joke Silva.[10] He has also featured in the TV Series Taste Of Love, Lekki Wives, An African City and Dowry.
In 2013, he won Best Actor in a Short Film at the In-Short film festival for his role as a psychotic husband in the thriller, Blink.[11] He attended the Acting for Film course at the New York Film Academy in collaboration with Del-York.[12][13]
In 2015, Deyemi founded Covenant Entertainment Services, a production and talent management firm and soon became a consultant to Silverbird Film Distribution. In 2019 he took up the position of marketing manager at Silverbird Distribution, rose to head Nollywood and Independent movie distribution and thereafter took over the management of the operations of the company as acting CEO.[14]
In 2017, Deyemi featured in his first RomCom drama, Scars, alongside Lilian Esoro, Chelsea Eze. The movie was directed by Tope Alake and written by Psalm Oderinde.
In 2022, he received his first ever nomination at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy for his role in "Omo Ghetto: The Saga".[15]
Personal life edit
Okanlawon got married in January 2013.[9] On 10 July 2016, Okanlawon and his wife Damilola welcomed their first child.[16]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ZR-7 | Alabi | Udoka & Olufemi | Principal (Feature Film) |
| Grain of Wheat | Saviour | Daniel & Ruyi | Lead Role/Short Film | |
| 2011 | Dependence | Dayo | Brian Wilson | Lead/Short Film |
| 2012 | 6:30PM | Ghost | Tonye Faloughi | Short Film/Supporting Role |
| Journey To Self | Ex lover | Tope Oshin-Ogun | Feature Film alongside Ashionye Raccah, Katherine Obiang, Dakore Akande, Tina Mba and more | |
| Blink | Husband | Tolu Ajayi | Lead Role/Short Film | |
| Gidi Up Season 1 | Tokunbo | Jade Osiberu | Lead/Series | |
| 2013 | Kpians: The Feast of Souls | Eric | Stanlee Ohikhuare | Sub-Lead/Feature Film alongside Kiki Omeili and Ashionye Ugboh-Raccah |
| +Kpians Premonition | Eric | Stanlee Ohikhuare | Sub-Lead/Web | |
| Gidi Up II | Tokunbo | Jade Osiberu | Lead/Series | |
| Oblivious | Charles | Stanlee Ohikhuare | Feature Film | |
| 2014 | Dowry I | Demola | Victor Sanchez | Lead Role/Series |
| Lekki Wives III | Hassan | Blessing Egbe | Supporting Role/Series | |
| A Place Called Happy | Dele | LowlaDee | Feature Film | |
| Perfect Imperfection | Kanmi | Ehizojie Ojesebholo | Lead Role/Feature Film | |
| Friends and Lovers | Frank | Yemi Morafa | Feature Film | |
| A Few Good Men | Wale | Ejiro Onobrakpor | Feature Film featuring Joseph Benjamin | |
| Vanity's Last Game | Justin | Ehizojie Ojesebholo | Feature Film | |
| 2015 | Dowry II | Demola | Victor Sanchez | Feature Film featuring Iretiola Doyle |
| If Tomorrow Never Comes | Kay | Pascal Amanfo | Feature Film featuring Yvonne Nelson | |
| Road To Yesterday | Michael | Ishaya Bako | Feature Film featuring Majid Michel and Genevieve Nnaji | |
| All Of Me | Chris | Okey Ifeanyi | Feature Film | |
| Undercover Lover | Mr Roberts | Okey Ifeanyi | Feature Film | |
| 2016 | Desperate Housegirls 2 & 3 | Femi | Sukanmi Adebayo & Akin-Tijani | Supporting Role/Series |
| Tobi | Ha.foo.sa | Niyi Akinmolayan | Animated Series | |
| It's About Your Husband | Kay | Bunmi Ajakaiye | Feature Film | |
| Madam Caitlyn | Dr Sam | - | Feature film | |
| Asawana | Sere | Diminas Dagogo | Feature Film | |
| Dinner | - | Jay Franklin Jituboh | Feature Film featuring Iretiola Doyle and Richard Mofe Damijo | |
| 2017 | The Royal Hibiscus Hotel | Martin | Ishaya Bako | |
| 2019 | Pandora's Box | |||
| Two Weeks in Lagos | ||||
| 2020 | Rise of the Saints | |||
| Omo Ghetto: The Saga | Femi Stone | JJC Skillz | Produced by Funke Akindele | |
| 2021 | King of Boys: The Return of the King[17] | Adetola Fashina | Kemi Adetiba | Netflix original limited series |
| Swallow | ||||
| Castle & Castle | Kwabena Mills | |||
| Prophetess | Fogo Bombastic | Niyi Akinmolayan | ||
| 2022 | Blood Sisters | Kola | Biyi Bandele | Netflix original limited series |
| 2022 | Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman | Biyi Bandele | Netflix and Ebonylife TV co-production |
Awards edit
| Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | In-Short Film Festival | Best Actor in a Short Film - Supporting Role in an English language film (Married but Living Single) | Deyemi Okanlawon (Blink) | Won | |
| Best Short Film | Blink | Nominated | |||
| Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards (AMVCA) | Best New Media Online Video | Kpians Premonition | Won | ||
| AFRINOLLY | Best Animation | In Iredu | Won | ||
| 2015 | Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards | Revelation of the Year | Deyemi Okanlawon (If Tomorrow Never Comes) | Won | |
| GMA Awards | Best Actor, African Collaboration | Deyemi Okanlawon (If Tomorrow Never Comes) | Won | ||
| 2016 | GMA Awards | Best Actor, African Collaboration | Deyemi Okanlawon (No Man's Land) | Won | |
| Best Actor in a Drama Series | Deyemi Okanlawon (An African City) | Nominated | |||
| 2019 | Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Supporting Actor –English | Deyemi Okanlawon (Levi) | Nominated | [18] |
| 2022 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actor in A Comedy | Deyemi Okanlawon (Omo Ghetto: The Saga ) | Nominated | [19] |
References edit
- ^ Trin, Mercy (12 March 2022). "Deyemi Okanlawon sparks reactions with pregnant woman in Ghana". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
- ^ Nwogu, Precious (5 April 2021). "'Omo Ghetto- The Saga' was unlike anything I have ever done as an actor- Deyemi Okanlawon". PulseNG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ Bada, Gbenga (21 May 2022). "Blood Sisters- Deyemi Okanlawon, Gabriel Afolayan, Genevova Umeh speak on roles". The Nation Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ Adekanye, Modupeoluwa (26 July 2021). "KING OF BOYS- THE RETURN OF THE KING' COMES TO NETFLIX AS 7-EPISODE SERIES". The Guardian Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Oloruni, Sola (25 February 2021). "Deyemi Okanlawon, Broda Shaggi, Falz, 2 other highest-grossing actors in Nollywood". Legit.ng. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Okoroji, Kelvin (5 March 2022). "Deyemi Okanlawon beats RMD, AY Comedian, others as highest grossing actor". QED. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b c Vitae, Style (19 February 2015). "DEYEMI OKANLAWON'S FIVE THINGS THIS WEEK". Style Vitae. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Izuzu, Chidumga (19 March 2016). "9 things you should know about talented actor". PulseNG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d Izuzu, Chidumga (11 November 2014). ""My Wife is My Woman Crush Forever" - Deyemi Okanlawon". PulseNG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Gidi cast on The Juice, Ndanitv, Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ Ibaka, TV (16 May 2016). . IbakaTV.com. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "The EbonyLife and Times of Deyemi Okanlawon". ebonylifetv.com. Lagos, Nigeria. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ Izuzu, Chibumga (19 April 2016). "9 things you should know about talented actor". PulseNG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ Adekanye, Modupe (18 April 2021). "DEYEMI OKANLAWON - EXPLORING GOLD MINES IN ACTING". The Guardian Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ Royal, David (9 May 2022). "AMVCA 2022- Movies, actors that got double nominations". Vanguard Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ Showemimo, Adedayo (12 July 2016). "Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon welcomes first child". TheNetNG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ Adekanye, Modupe (26 July 2021). "King Of Boys: The Return Of The King Returns As 7-Episode Series". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ Bada, Gbenga (15 December 2019). "BON Awards 2019: 'Gold Statue', Gabriel Afolayan win big at 11th edition". Pulse Nigeria. from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 26 March 2022.