Deyemi Okanlawon

Deyemi Okanlawon is a Nigerian film, television, theatre and voice actor. He is best known for his roles in the TV Series Gidi Up and An African City and featured in Movies, If Tomorrow Comes and Road to Yesterday as well as his cameo appearances in a number of Nigerian music videos including No be You by Waje and Soldier by Falz The Bahd Guy.[1]

Deyemi Okanlawon
Born
Adeyemi Okanlawon

Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
OccupationActor
Years active2010 – present
Websitewww.deyemitheactor.com

Early life

Okanlawon was born in Lagos,[2] Southwest Nigeria to an Aircraft Engineer father Adeyemi Okanlawon, and Adeyinka Okanlawon a baker and entrepreneur. He had his primary school education at Taikenny Nursery and Primary School in Lagos, and his secondary education at International School, Lagos. He then went on to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos,[2] Lagos, Nigeria. A former baker and sales and marketing executive he also obtained a Certificate in Acting for Film, from the New York Film Academy.[3]

Career

Okanlawon had his first experience with acting at the age of 5,[4] when he featured in an ‘end-of-year’ play while in primary school. At the age of 9, Okanlawon featured in a nationally syndicated Television commercial with Kunle Bamtefa. While at the University of Lagos, Okanlawon became an active member of the drama groups Gf(x) (Harvesters Company), Xtreme Reaction and Snapshots (Covenant Christian Centre).[4]

Okanlawon made his feature film debut in the 2010 movie ZR-7,[4] before which he featured in a short film titled A Grain of Wheat. He went on to feature in and co-produce many more short-films and by 2012 he had gained notoriety for his numerous appearances in made-for-internet short films and web series including Blink, 6:30pm and Knock Knock. In 2013 he switched careers to focus on acting full-time and has since featured in over 50 film credits, 8 stage credits and has appeared in OLX and GLO Television commercials as well as music videos for Waje and Aramide. He has also had roles in movies such as Greg Odutayo's “Beyond Blood” starring Joseph Benjamin and Kehinde Bankole; Pascal Amanfo's If Tomorrow Never Comes starring Yvonne Nelson,[2] Ishaya Bako's Road To Yesterday starring Genevieve Nnaji and Majid Michel and Pascal Amanfo's No Man’s Land starring Adjetey Anang. He was in NdaniTV's series Gidi Up with OC Ukeje, Titilope Sonuga, Somkele Iyamah and Joke Silva.[5] He has also featured in the TV Series Taste Of Love, Lekki Wives, An African City and Dowry.

In 2013, he won the award for Best Actor in a Short Film at the In-Short film festival for his role as a psychotic husband in the thriller, Blink.[6]

Personal life

Okanlawon got married in January 2013.[4] On July 10, 2016, Okanlawon and his wife Damilola welcomed their first child.[7]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2010ZR-7AlabiUdoka & OlufemiPrincipal (Feature Film)
Grain of WheatSaviourDaniel & RuyiLead Role/Short Film
2011DependenceDayoBrian WilsonLead/Short Film
20126:30PMGhostTonye FaloughiShort Film/Supporting Role
Journey To SelfEx loverTope Oshin-OgunFeature Film alongside Ashionye Raccah, Katherine Obiang, Dakore Akande, Tina Mba and more
BlinkHusbandTolu AjayiLead Role/Short Film
Gidi Up Season 1TokunboJade OsiberuLead/Series
2013Kpians: The Feast of SoulsEricStanlee OhikhuareSub-Lead/Feature Film alongside Kiki Omeili and Ashionye Ugboh-Raccah
+Kpians PremonitionEricStanlee OhikhuareSub-Lead/Web
Gidi Up IITokunboJade OsiberuLead/Series
ObliviousCharlesStanlee OhikhuareFeature Film
2014Dowry IDemolaVictor SanchezLead Role/Series
Lekki Wives IIIHassanBlessing EgbeSupporting Role/Series
A Place Called HappyDeleLowlaDeeFeature Film
Perfect ImperfectionKanmiEhizojie OjesebholoLead Role/Feature Film
Friends and LoversFrankYemi MorafaFeature Film
A Few Good MenWaleEjiro OnobrakporFeature Film featuring Joseph Benjamin
Vanity's Last GameJustinEhizojie OjesebholoFeature Film
2015Dowry IIDemolaVictor SanchezFeature Film featuring Iretiola Doyle
If Tomorrow Never ComesKayPascal AmanfoFeature Film featuring Yvonne Nelson
Road To YesterdayMichaelIshaya BakoFeature Film featuring Majid Michel and Genevieve Nnaji
All Of MeChrisOkey IfeanyiFeature Film
Undercover LoverMr RobertsOkey IfeanyiFeature Film
2016Desperate Housegirls 2 & 3FemiSukanmi Adebayo & Akin-TijaniSupporting Role/Series
TobiHa.foo.saNiyi AkinmolayanAnimated Series
It's About Your HusbandKayBunmi AjakaiyeFeature Film
Madam CaitlynDr Sam-Feature film
AsawanaSereDiminas DagogoFeature Film
Dinner-Jay Franklin JitubohFeature Film featuring Iretiola Doyle and Richard Mofe Damijo
2017The Royal Hibiscus HotelMartin Ishaya Bako
2019Pandora's Box

Awards

Year Event Prize Recipient Result
2013 In-Short Film Festival Best Actor in a Short Film - Supporting Role in an English language film (Married but Living Single) Deyemi Okanlawon (Blink) Won
Best Short Film Blink Nominated
Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Awards (AMVCA) Best New Media Online Video Kpians Premonition Won
AFRINOLLY Best Animation In Iredu Won
2015 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards Revelation of the Year Deyemi Okanlawon (If Tomorrow Never Comes) Won
GMA Awards Best Actor, African Collaboration Deyemi Okanlawon (If Tomorrow Never Comes) Won
2016 GMA Awards Best Actor, African Collaboration Deyemi Okanlawon (No Man's Land) Won
Best Actor in a Drama Series Deyemi Okanlawon (An African City) Nominated

References

  1. Dimorkorkus, Stella (16 May 2016). "Actor, Deyemi Okanlawon Shows Versatility In Falz's Short Film Musical, 'Soldier'". SDK. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  2. Vitae, Style (19 February 2015). "DEYEMI OKANLAWON'S FIVE THINGS THIS WEEK". Style Vitae. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  3. Izuzu, Chidumga (19 March 2016). "9 things you should know about talented actor". PulseNG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  4. Izuzu, Chidumga (11 November 2014). ""My Wife is My Woman Crush Forever" - Deyemi Okanlawon". PulseNG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  5. Gidi cast on The Juice, Ndanitv, Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  6. Ibaka, TV (16 May 2016). "Adeyemi Okanlawon". IbakaTV.com. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  7. Showemimo, Adedayo (12 July 2016). "Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon welcomes first child". TheNetNG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
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