NOLLYWOOD ACTOR ALEXX EKUBO REPORTEDLY DIES AT 40 AS CAUSE OF DEATH EMERGES

The Nigerian movie industry has once again been thrown into mourning following the death of famous actor Alexx Ekubo. He was 40.

News of the late actor’s demise was first broken by his manager, filmmaker Samuel Olatunji.

He was reportedly silently battling cancer.

Before now, Ekubo had noticeably been absent from the Nigerian movie industry.

His last post on his official Instagram page was in December 2024.

Tributes

Following the announcement, the actor’s colleagues and friends have been paying tributes to him.

The late actor’s colleague, Godwin Nnadiekwe, said that he is struggling to find the words to describe how he feels about Ekubo’s passing.

“This news has truly broken me. Nollywood has lost a rare soul, and I’m at a loss for words because this wasn’t the plan, Alex Ekubo.

“To think you already prepared your will. It’s a heartbreak I can’t quite describe. Rest well, my friend,” he wrote on Instagram.

Funke Akindele also React to the tragic news via her Instagram handle, she wrote: “Hmmmmm. Rest in peace, Alex.

“I really tried to reach out to see you one more time, but I guess you knew best. May your kind soul rest in peace, Alex. Ore mi, as you fondly called me, I will always remember and cherish the good times we shared together. REST IN PEACE, ALEX,” she said.

Others like Mercy Johnson, Frodd, and BBNaija’s Uriel have also sent in tributes.

Cause of Death

Nollywood actor cum filmmaker, Stanley Ajemba, better known as Stanley Ontop, has revealed that his colleague, Alex Ekubo, had secretly been battling stage 4 liver cancer since 2024.

Recounting the events that led to the thespian’s demise, Stanley, in a post on his Instagram page on Tuesday evening, explained that Alex underwent a liver transplant, stressing that “complications arose after the liver failed again, and his condition deteriorated until his passing.”

Stanley Ontop, a close associate of the deceased, said Alex’s corpse had been deposited in the morgue and urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims regarding the cause of his illness.

He wrote, “Alex was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer in 2024. After undergoing treatment and a liver transplant, he briefly returned to work. Unfortunately, the liver failed again and complications arose, and his condition deteriorated until his passing. His remains have been deposited at the morgue.

“We kindly ask the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims regarding the cause of his illness. We request that everyone allow Alex to rest in peace and respect the privacy of his family during this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace.”

Alex Ekubo

Born on 10 April 1986, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Alex Ekubo hails from Arochukwu in Abia State.

He attended Federal Government College Daura in Katsina State.

He later graduated with a Law degree from the University of Calabar. Before that, he held a diploma in Mass Communication from Calabar Polytechnic.

He made his acting debut in the 2005 production, ‘Sinners in the House’.

Since then, he has acted in lots of movies, including the critically acclaimed ‘Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story’, ‘A Sunday Affair’, ‘Hire a Woman’, ‘Omo Ghetto-The Saga’, ‘Weekend Getaway’, ‘Lagos Cougars’, ‘Your Excellency’ and many others.

He briefly courted controversy in 2021 when his fiancée, Fancy Acholonu, ended their engagement about three months before their wedding.

In 2023, he was appointed as the Special Assistant to the

President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria on Youth Development by the then president, Emeka Rollas.