By Seyi Babalola
Junior Pope, also known as Pope Obumneme Odonwodo, a well-known Nollywood actor, drowned on Wednesday during a movie shoot.
While returning from a film location, Junior Pope and three of his colleagues drowned in their boat, which overturned on the Anam River in Anambra State.
After being pulled out of the water, he spent some time healing before tragically dying.
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, confirmed his death on Thursday and stated that three other corpses are yet to be found.
Below are eleven things to know about Junior Pope.
1. Junior Pope was born on May 7, 1984, in Cameroon but moved to Nigeria at a young age.
2. He was a Nigerian model and actor known for acting criminal, villain, armed robber, militant and hitman roles.
3. He hails from Ukehe in Enugu State.
4. Junior Pope began his acting career in 2006 and has acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies including ‘Bachelor Eve’, ‘Vengeance of Bullet’, ‘Bitter Generation’, ‘The Generals’, ‘Wrong Initiation’, ‘The Cat’, ‘Nkwocha’, ‘Secret Adventure’, among others.
5. The actor graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State with a degree in Accounting.
6. He tied the knot with his wife, Jennifer Awele in 2014 and their marriage is blessed with three children.
7. He was a Christian by faith.
8. On April 9, 2023, the actor shared a video of himself offering prayers for a safe journey. Sadly, the accident occurred on their return journey the following day.
9. Ironically, he died while filming a movie titled, ‘The Other Side Of Life.’
10. He was rescued from the river and initially recovering, but he sadly passed away later.
Following his death, AGN declared April 11 ‘No shooting day.’ The Guild also placed an indefinite ban on shooting in riverine areas and boat riding, and bared actors from acting in any movie to be produced by Adanma Luke, the producer of the ill-fated movie, ‘The Other Side Of Life.’
