{"id":243268,"date":"2026-05-13T22:19:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/who-is-alexx-ekubo-details-explored-after-nollywood-star-dies-at-40\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T22:19:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T22:19:20","slug":"who-is-alexx-ekubo-details-explored-after-nollywood-star-dies-at-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/who-is-alexx-ekubo-details-explored-after-nollywood-star-dies-at-40\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Alexx Ekubo? Details explored after Nollywood star dies at 40"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5166872\" data-slug-id=\"2781573\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has died at the age of 40 after what his family described as a battle with advanced metastatic kidney cancer. The Nigerian film star passed away at Evercare Hospital in Lagos on May 11, 2026, according to statements cited by the BBC and The Guardian Nigeria on May 12, 2026. <\/p>\n<p>Alexx Ekubo was widely recognized for his performances in films such as <em>Weekend Getaway<\/em>, <em>Omo Ghetto: The Saga,<\/em> and <em>The Bling Lagosians<\/em>, as well as his appearance in Yemi Alade\u2019s 2013 music video \u201cJohnny.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Tributes quickly poured in across Nigeria\u2019s entertainment industry following news of his death. Actress Funke Akindele, who worked with him on <em>Omo Ghetto: The Saga<\/em>, wrote on social media: \u201cYou kept telling me you are fine.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>His death has prompted renewed attention on his career, humanitarian work and rise to fame in Nollywood.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Alexx Ekubo rose from modeling contests to Nollywood stardom<\/h2>\n<p>Born Alexx Ikenna Ekubo-Okwaraeke on April 10, 1986, in Rivers State, Nigeria, Ekubo initially gained public attention after finishing as the first runner-up in the 2010 Mr Nigeria competition, according to The Guardian Nigeria. Before pursuing acting full-time, he studied law at the University of Calabar.<\/p>\n<p>The BBC reported that Ekubo made his acting debut in the 2005 production <em>Sinners in the House<\/em>. However, his breakthrough came years later with the 2012 romantic drama <em>Weekend Getaway<\/em>, where he played Andre Dikeh. The role earned him the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/pop-culture\/news-why-sean-penn-skip-oscars-chris-cuomo-says-reason-actor-s-absence-probably-says-lot-more\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Best Supporting Actor<\/a> award at the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards and significantly raised his profile in the industry.<\/p>\n<p>Over the following decade, Alexx Ekubo became one of Nollywood\u2019s most recognizable actors, appearing in romantic comedies, television productions, and drama films. According to The Guardian Nigeria, his film credits included <em>Lagos Cougars<\/em>, <em>The First Lady<\/em>, <em>Diary of a Lagos Girl<\/em>, <em>Power of 1<\/em>, <em>A Sunday Affair,<\/em> and <em>Omo Ghetto: The Saga<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>He was also known internationally for appearing in singer Yemi Alade\u2019s widely viewed \u201cJohnny\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/us\/music\/news-jay-z-re-releases-imaginary-players-music-video-youtube-following-sampling-cardi-b-s-new-track\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">music video<\/a> in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>Industry colleagues frequently described him as calm, charismatic, and hardworking. Filmmaker Lancelot Imasuen, who reportedly gave Alexx Ekubo his first movie role, called his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/pop-culture\/did-donald-gibb-ever-work-film-jean-claude-van-damme-details-explored-former-passes-away-71\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">death<\/a> \u201cdevastating and unbelievable,\u201d while actor Godwin Nnadiekwe described him as \u201ca rare soul,\u201d according to the BBC.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sportskeeda-embed\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/pop-culture\/twitter-embed\">\n<div class=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/pop-culture\/twitter-embed\">\n<div class=\"profile-card\">\n<p><span><span>Aycomedian reacts to News about the passing of Alex Ekubo <\/span><span>\u200b<\/span><span>\u201c We lost Alexx Ekubo .. a young man, a colleague, a brother, a talent, and someone many people only knew through the smile he gave the world.<\/span><span>\u200b<\/span><span>Watching his lifeless body right in front of me, I can honestly say that even in death, he looked peaceful. He looked like someone who had carried pain quietly for too long and had finally found rest.<\/span><span>\u200b<\/span><span>He never shared or disclosed his health issues with any of us, and that is the part that should make all of us pause.<\/span><span>\u200b<\/span><span>Before you blog that unconfirmed story, type that insult, before you mock that weight loss, before you laugh at that failed relationship, before you turn someone&#8217;s pain into content, please remember that your comment may be meeting them at the weakest point of their life\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>His humanitarian work and awards extended beyond acting<\/h3>\n<p>Alexx Ekubo was also recognized for humanitarian and social development work. According to the BBC, he received several honors throughout his career, including Best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/us\/movies\/news-from-sinners-the-pitt-complete-list-2026-actor-awards-winners\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Actor of the Year<\/a> at the Best of Nollywood Awards in 2016 and Best Lead Actor in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Nigeria\u2019s First Lady honored him with a Special Recognition Award in 2018 for his contributions to the entertainment industry. In 2020, he was inducted into the United Nations-backed Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) under 40 list for his work in entertainment and social development.<\/p>\n<p>Alexx Ekubo also received an honorary doctorate in arts and culture from the Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Communication et de Gestion in Benin in 2021. At the time, he said the recognition came during \u201cquite a time\u201d in his life, according to the BBC. His charity work also earned him the Nigerian National Award of Excellence as the Global Social Giving Actor of the Year in 2021.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>In recent years, fans had expressed concern after Alexx Ekubo stepped away from social media and reduced his public appearances. The BBC noted that his final social media post appeared in December 2024. His family later confirmed that he had been privately battling advanced metastatic kidney cancer before his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/pop-culture\/how-old-nedra-talley-ross-details-explored-last-surviving-member-the-ronettes-passes-away\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">death<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The family, in a statement shared on his Instagram page and cited by The Guardian Nigeria, said he endured his illness with \u201cremarkable strength, unwavering faith, and enduring hope.\u201d Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced at a later date.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Devangee Halder<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/pop-culture\/who-alexx-ekubo-details-explored-nollywood-star-dies-40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has died at the age of 40 after what his family described as a battle with advanced metastatic kidney cancer. The Nigerian film star passed away at Evercare Hospital in Lagos on May 11, 2026, according to statements cited by the BBC and The Guardian Nigeria on May 12, 2026. Alexx [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":243269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-243268","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/243269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}