Nollywood movie industry has been hit with another sudden death, this time veteran actor Justus Esiri.
He passed way on Monday night after a short-time battle with an undisclosed ailment in his hometown.
Few months ago, Nigerian singer and Mavin record member, Dr Sid introduced Justus Esiri as his father. Dr Sid real name is Onoriode Esiri, he is the youngest child of the deceased.
As at the time of this report, no detail has been released regarding Justus Esiri’s death but it is a shock to everybody as the family only released this few hours ago.
A source said the now late Justus Esiri has been secretly battling an age related illness for a while but his family chose to make it a secret until his sudden demise Monday night at the age of 71.
Last year over four top Nollywood stars including Pete Eneh and Enebeli Elebuwa died.
Pete Eneh died of untreated leg infection on November 15, 2012 at a private hospital in Enugu while Enebeli Elebuwa died of stroke on the 4th of December 2012 at a private hospital in New Delhi, India.
Just this last week two Nollywood actors died tragically. A source who claimed the angel of death has visited Nollywood might be proven true with the sudden demise of top Nigerian movie stars one after the other within the past 12 months.
Before his death, Justus Esiri was a member of the Order of Niger (MON). He came into limelight in the early 80’s through the popular Village Headmaster TV series. He has also featured in many interesting Nollywood movies.
The late Justus Esiri was born in November 1942 in Oria, Abraka, Delta State. His studied at Catholic Secondary school in Warri in year 1948 before proceeding to Maximillan University in Munich, German in 1964.
He also attended Prof. Weners Institute of Engineering, West Berlin, 1967 and the Ahrens School of Performing Arts in 1968.
Justus Esiri, detoured into motion picture production in 1968 as a staff of the Schiller Theater, Berlin, Germany, where he stayed till 1976. During the 1977 FESTAC held in Lagos, he choreographed the Modern Dress exhibition.
He was Production Manager for Dinner With The Devil. He worked as News translator and Newscaster with the Voice of Nigeria (German Service).
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