Junior Pope: A Look At Few Things To Know About Popular Nollywood Actor Who Died In Boat Accident

The Nollywood industry has been thrown into mourning after popular Nollywood actor, Pope Obumneme Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope, drowned and died on Wednesday during a movie shoot.

Junior Pope and three of his colleagues died when their boat capsized on the Anam River in Anambra State while returning from a film location.

He was rescued from the river and initially recovering, but he sadly passed away later.

The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, confirmed his death on Thursday and stated that three other corpses are yet to be found.

Junior Pope: A Look At Few Things To Know About Popular Nollywood Actor Who Died In Boat Accident

Below are few things to know about Junior Pope;

• Pope Obumneme Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, was born on May 7, 1984, in Bamenda, Cameroon. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Odonwodo, who hail from the Ukehe tribe of Enugu State in southeastern Nigeria.
• Junior Pope spent his early years in Cameroon where he completed his primary and secondary education before relocating to Nigeria.
• He was a Nigerian model and actor known for acting criminal, villain, armed robber, militant, and hitman roles.
• He hails from Ukehe in Enugu State.
• Junior Pope began his acting career in 2006 and has acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies including ‘Bachelor Eve’, ‘Vengeance of Bullet’, ‘Bitter Generation’, ‘The Generals, ‘Wrong Initiation’, ‘The Cat’, ‘Nkwocha’, ‘Secret Adventure’, among others.
• His breakthrough came in 2007 with the movie “Secret Adventures” directed by Tchidi Chikere, which brought him into the limelight. Since then, he has acted in over 100 movies, including Mad Sex, Bitter Generation, and Vengeance of Bullet.
• His performance in “Secret Adventures” earned him the award for Nollywood’s Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards in 2010. This recognition marked the beginning of a series of accolades that would come his way.
• The actor graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State with a degree in Accounting.
• He tied the knot with his wife, Jennifer Awele in 2014 and their marriage is blessed with three children.
• He was a Christian by faith.
• As a philanthropist, Junior Pope has made significant contributions to society, and his influence extends beyond the silver screen. He is known for engaging with fans on social media and sharing insights into his personal and professional life.
• Junior Pope’s legacy in Nollywood is marked by his versatility and dedication to his craft. He is considered one of the richest and most influential actors in Nigeria, with an estimated net worth of $350,000. His awards, including the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, are a testament to his talent and hard work.
• On April 9, 2023, the actor shared a video of himself offering prayers for a safe journey. Sadly, the accident occurred on their return journey the following day.
• Ironically, he died while filming a movie titled, ‘The Other Side Of Life.’
• He was rescued from the river and initially recovering, but he sadly passed away later.
• Following his death, AGN declared April 11 ‘No shooting day.’ The Guild also placed an indefinite ban on shooting in riverine areas and boat riding, and bared actors from acting in any movie to be produced by Adanma Luke, the producer of the ill-fated movie, ‘The Other Side Of Life.’