Chiwetalu Agu’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Intro Nigerian actor
Is
Actor

From
Nigeria

Type
Film, Television, Stage and Radio

Gender male
Birth 1 January 1956
Age: 64 years

Chiwetalu Agu (Enugu, Nigeria, 1956) is a veteran Nollywood actor, comedian and movie producer who won the 2012 Nollywood award for ‘best actor in indigenous movie (non-English speaking language)’. His usage of specific language slang, phrases or clichés in each film has made him uniquely a household name in Nigeria and among Nollywood admirers abroad. While asserting that comic genres is a unique vehicle in projecting Nigerian culture globally as well as establishing the Nollywood brand, Agu is listed as one of the outstanding comedians who have contributed to the development of Nollywood comic genres by Prof. Femi Shaka of the University of Port Harcourt. Agu is married to Nkechi and has three sons and two daughters.

Table of Contents

– Early years
– Acting career
– Filmography
– Videography
– Controversies
– Nominations
– Awards

Early years

Agu’s versatility dates back to the transition of Nigerian television soap operas to Nollywood movies. Before the inception of Nollywood, about 31 years ago, television soap opera was the order of the day and Agu featured in Nigerian Television Authority Channel 8 Enugu’s Ikoro, produced by Joe Onyekwelu. He also featured in ETV Channel 50, now ESBS. in soaps like Baby Come Now and Ripples (in Lagos), produced by Chico Ejiro’s brother, Zeb; in the latter he played the character of Chief Abunna.

Acting career

Being one of the foremost actors in Nollywood, Agu’s ingenuity is unique as an actor because of his wit, humor, invention of specific clichés, customized phrases or slang in every film. For his numerous fans, he is fun to watch any day.

What amazes most watchers is how he combines his well-disciplined life with the wicked or devilish roles he acts in films. Even though Agu has the versatility to play the roles of comedian, wicked or tricky person, he sometimes finds it difficult to reconcile his lifestyle with the negative roles he plays, admitting that he sometimes shed tears for his characters.

Filmography

There is a record of at least about 150 movies in which Agu has been cast.

Year Film Role Note
Last Ofalla 1-4
Taboo Ichie Ogwu
1986 Things Fall Apart
Ripples
2008 Return of Justice By Fire
Traditional Marriage 1 & 2
;;;;;; Fire on the Mountain 1 & 2
Price of the Wicked
Dr. Thomas with Sam Loco Efe
The Priest Must Die
The Price of Sacrifice
The Catechist
Police Recruit
Sunrise 1 & 2
Old School 1-3
Honorable 1 & 2
Sounds of Love 1 & 2
Nkwocha
Across the Niger
The Plain Truth 1 7 2

Sounds of Love 1 & 2
Church Man 1 & 2 Ukpabi
Holy Anger 1 & 2
Evil Twin with Pete Edochie
Beauty and the Beast 1-3
Royal Messengers 1 & 2
Royal Destiny 1 & 2
2007 Burning kingdom 1 & 2
The Maidens with Clarion Chukwurah
Battle of the Gods 1 & 2

Videography

Year Title Director Ref
2016 Agbommma Cameo appearance Tchidi Chekere

Controversies

Agu has raised controversies with comments where he has said that he will ask for a good price and described the sexual harassment alleged in Nollywood as an issue with a general phenomenon. He added “Nollywood actresses are well endowed”. See also interview in The Daily Independent.

Nominations

– In the first Nollywood Movie Awards in 2012: Agu was nominated for ‘the best actor in indigenous movie for his role’ in Nkwocha.
– Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFAA London) 2011: Agu’s role in The Maidens earned him nomination for ‘the best supporting actor’.
– In the 2008 4th annual African Movie Academy Awards for his role in Across the Niger Agu was nominated for ‘the best actor in a supporting role.’.
Awards

– Agu was the winner in the first ever Nollywood Movie Awards 2012 for ‘the best actor in an indigenous movie: non English speaking language’ for his role in Nkwocha.