NIGERIA: Veteran Nollywood actor, producer, and cultural icon Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has died at the age of 66 following a battle with stage-four cancer.
His passing was confirmed tady (Sunday) by his family, following emotional public updates from his daughters, Kira and Haleemah.
During an Instagram Live session, a tearful Kira broke the news to the public, repeating, “My daddy is dead” as tributes immediately began flooding social media from fans, colleagues, and industry leaders.
The news of his death comes just days after the family publicly disclosed the severity of his illness. Medical practitioners had recently advised the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered due to the advanced stage of the disease, shifting his care plan toward palliative measures.
While his daughters made public appeals seeking specialized medical direction and expert intervention, they also had to address bad actors trying to exploit their father’s health crisis for personal financial gain online.
Born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State, Taiwo Hassan began his professional journey as an automobile mechanic at the Lagos State Water Corporation before pursuing his passion for acting in 1981. He transitioned into full-time filmmaking in 1994, quickly cementing his position as one of the most commandingly charismatic figures in Yoruba cinema.
Known for his calm demeanor, moral roles, and deep mastery of Yoruba heritage and poetry, Ogogo starred in dozens of legendary productions spanning over four decades.
Taiwo Hassan leaves behind a rich legacy that helped define modern Nigerian cinema, credited by many for laying the foundation of the thriving Yoruba film industry.
