The Nigerian film industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, at the age of 66.
Hassan died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after a battle with stage four cancer. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Kira Taiwo, during an emotional Instagram Live session in which she broke down in tears. Multiple Nigerian media outlets have also reported the death.
The development came only days after the actor’s family publicly disclosed the severity of his illness and appealed to medical professionals and institutions for urgent assistance. His daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, had revealed that their father was battling stage four cancer and was seeking further treatment options.
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Kira had earlier said doctors had informed the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered because of his condition. The family subsequently appealed for information on other possible medical options and specialists who could assist in managing his condition.
The actor’s final days had generated considerable public concern, with several members of the Yoruba film industry rallying around him. On Friday, prominent actors and filmmakers, including Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Antar Laniyan, Bukky Wright, Madam Saje and Mr Latin, gathered in Lagos for a prayer session for the ailing actor.
News of his death triggered an outpouring of grief from colleagues and admirers. Actor and filmmaker Saheed Balogun mourned Hassan in an Instagram post, while other members of the entertainment industry paid tribute to the veteran who had spent more than four decades in the Nigerian film industry.
Born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State, Hassan began his acting career in 1981 and went on to become one of the most recognisable figures in Yoruba cinema. Before becoming a full time actor, he trained and worked as an automobile mechanic and reportedly spent about 13 years working with the Lagos State Water Corporation. He eventually left his government employment in 1994 to concentrate fully on acting.
Ogogo was not only an actor but also worked as a producer, director and screenwriter. His career spanned the transition from traditional Yoruba theatre to the home video era and the modern Nigerian film industry. He featured in several productions, including Owo Blow, Agbelebu, Omo Ghetto, Omin, Tenant of the House, Bank Alert and Aníkúlápó.
His appearance in Aníkúlápó, the 2022 film directed by Kunle Afolayan, also introduced the veteran actor to a younger generation of viewers. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Hassan’s death also comes less than a week after his family had to dismiss an earlier false report claiming that he had already died. On August 18, his daughter Lima described the circulating report as fake and urged the public to stop spreading unverified information as the family continued seeking medical help for the actor.
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The actor’s death therefore brings to an end a career that spanned more than four decades and left a significant mark on Yoruba language cinema. For generations of Nigerian film audiences, the name Ogogo became synonymous with the Yoruba film industry, where he established himself as an actor capable of moving between traditional storytelling, contemporary drama and major commercial productions.
His passing is expected to trigger further tributes across Nollywood and beyond as colleagues, fans and industry stakeholders remember one of the veterans who helped shape the development of modern Yoruba cinema.
