The actor spent more than four decades on stage and screen, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in Nigeria’s Yoruba-language film industry.

Lagos, Nigeria (Running Africa) — Veteran Nigerian actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has died at the age of 66 after battling cancer, ending a celebrated career that spanned more than four decades and several eras of Nigerian cinema.

His daughter, Kira Hassan, confirmed his death on Sunday, prompting tributes from across Nollywood and the Yoruba film industry.

Fellow veteran actor Jide Kosoko said Hassan would be buried in his hometown in Ogun State in accordance with Islamic rites.

From the early years of Yoruba-language productions to Nigeria’s home-video boom and the modern streaming era, Ogogo became one of the industry’s most recognizable performers.

Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies at 66

News of Hassan’s death was confirmed by his family following his battle with cancer.

The actor had spent more than 40 years in the entertainment industry, building a career that made him a familiar figure to generations of Nigerian film audiences.

His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from fellow actors, filmmakers and fans celebrating his contribution to Yoruba cinema and Nollywood.

Plans are underway for Hassan to be laid to rest in his native Ogun State.

From Automobile Mechanic to Yoruba Film Star

Born in Ilaro, Ogun State, Hassan’s journey into acting was far from conventional.

Before becoming one of Nigeria’s best-known Yoruba actors, he trained as an automobile mechanic and later worked for the Lagos State Water Corporation.

Hassan began acting in 1981 while still employed by the government, balancing his professional responsibilities with a growing passion for performance.

As his acting career developed, he eventually left his government position in 1994 to pursue entertainment full-time.

The decision would place him at the center of one of the most transformative periods in Nigerian filmmaking.

‘Owo Blow’ Made Ogogo a Household Name

Hassan’s major breakthrough came with Tade Ogidan’s 1996 home-video production Owo Blow.

His performance helped establish him as a household name during the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s home-video industry.

The role earned Hassan the THEMA Best Actor award in 1997, further cementing his reputation as one of the leading performers of his generation.

His rise coincided with a period when Yoruba-language films and Nigerian home videos were reaching increasingly large audiences across the country and diaspora.

Ogogo Built a Four-Decade Nollywood Career

Over the following decades, Hassan developed an extensive filmography that demonstrated his longevity across different generations of Nigerian cinema.

He appeared in productions including Agbelebu, Omo Ghetto, Tenant of the House, Bank Alert and Aníkúlápó.

His contribution extended beyond acting.

Hassan also worked as a producer, director and screenwriter, giving him a broader role in developing the stories and productions that helped shape Yoruba cinema.

His body of work made him part of a generation of filmmakers who helped move Yoruba storytelling from traditional theatre and early video productions into the wider Nollywood industry.

‘Aníkúlápó’ Introduced Ogogo to New Generation

Decades after establishing himself as a veteran of Nigerian cinema, Hassan found renewed recognition through Kunle Afolayan’s Aníkúlápó.

He portrayed Alaafin Ademuyiwa, introducing his work to younger viewers and an increasingly international audience for Nigerian films.

The performance earned Hassan a 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

It also demonstrated his ability to remain relevant as Nollywood evolved from physical home videos into an industry increasingly shaped by cinemas and global streaming platforms.

Nollywood Pays Tribute to Taiwo Hassan

Tributes have poured in following news of Taiwo Hassan’s death, with colleagues remembering an actor whose career stretched across several defining periods in Nigerian entertainment.

For audiences who knew him simply as Ogogo, Hassan represented more than an individual film star.

His career traced part of the evolution of Yoruba cinema itself — from the industry’s earlier theatrical traditions and home-video explosion to the globally accessible Nigerian productions of today.

After more than four decades on screen and behind the camera, Taiwo Hassan leaves behind a body of work that helped carry Yoruba storytelling across generations and establish it as an enduring part of modern Nollywood.