Nollywood is in mourning again following the tragic passing of actor John Paul Odonwodo, fondly known as Junior Pope. The actor, alongside three colleagues, lost their lives in a devastating accident while returning from a movie shoot in a boat which capsized in the Anam River, on Wednesday.
Since the heartbreaking announcement, Junior Pope’s fellow actors have expressed their grief on various social media platforms. The Actor’s Guild of Nigeria confirmed his passing on Thursday, leaving the Nollywood community in deep sorrow as they remember and honour his contributions to the industry.
National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, who confirmed the death of the actor on his instagram page, wrote, “It is so so sad that our joy was short-lived.
“My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail. God knows the best. We finally lost him.
“Mr Friday’s corpse has been identified but three other corpses are yet to be found.”
Junior Pope began his Nollywood career in 2006, working his way up from supporting roles to global fame. His big break came with the critically acclaimed film ‘Secret Adventures’, which shot him to fame in 2007.
Renowned for his versatility, he effectively switched between roles, playing characters ranging from bodyguards to villains, earning accolades such as the Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria award in 2010.
Junior Pope demonstrated his exceptional talent in over 150 films, gaining recognition at prestigious events such as the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice (AMVC) Awards and the Africa Movie Academy (AMA) Awards.
Junior Pope leaves behind his wife and three kids.
