10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Nollywood Actor, Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’

The Nollywood industry was thrown into mourning on Sunday following the death of veteran actor and filmmaker Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.

The 66-year-old actor reportedly died after battling stage-four cancer. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Kira Taiwo, during an emotional Instagram Live session.

ALSO READ:

• Singer Wasiu Ayinde, Malaika Cry On Stage After Hearing News Of Ogogo’s Death
• Ogun Government Mourns Veteran Actor, Ogogo

Here are 10 things you may not know about the late actor.

1. Taiwo Hassan was born in Ilaro, Ogun State. He came from a family with a history of multiple sets of twins and also had a twin brother.
2. He attended primary school in Ilaro before proceeding to Gazikia College in Lagos. However, financial difficulties prevented him from completing his secondary education.

He later received technical training and worked as an automobile mechanic before eventually joining the entertainment industry.

3. Ogogo began his acting career in 1981. His first stage role was as Akiigbe, an ewi chanter, in a stage production at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos.
4. After spending years working outside the entertainment industry, he left his job with the Lagos State Water Corporation in 1994 to focus fully on acting.
5. One of the major turning points in his career was his role in the Yoruba film Owo Blow. The 1996 production became an important work in Nigerian cinema, while his portrayal of Wole Owolabi helped establish him as a prominent actor.
6. Although Ogogo was best known for his roles in Yoruba-language films, he also featured in English-language Nigerian productions, including Omo Ghetto, Tenant of the House and Bank Alert.
7. His role as Alaafin Ademuyiwa in Kunle Afolayan’s 2022 Netflix film Aníkúlápó introduced him to a new generation of viewers.
8. Ogogo’s performance in Aníkúlápó earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
9. Beyond acting, he also worked as a producer, director and screenwriter. His creative works often explored Yoruba culture, family, leadership, tradition and social responsibility.
10. During the mid-1990s, Ogogo appeared in and contributed behind the scenes to several productions, including Agbelebu (1995), Dr Brown (1995), which he also wrote, Ekun-Ayo (Tears of Joy) (1996), where he served as writer and producer, and Owo Blow Parts 2 and 3 (1996), in which he played Wole Owolabi.