Nigerian politician and actor (born 1961)
Richard Evans Mofe-Damijo (born 6 July 1961), popularly known as RMD, is a foremost Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist.[ 1] He was also a Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009.[ 2] [ 3] In 2005, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[ 4] [ 5] He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016.[ 6] [ 7] In 2024, he was honoured with the Industry Merit Awards, alongside Iya Rainbow at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards .[ 8]
Early life
Mofe-Damijo was born in Aladja community of Udu Kingdom, Delta State , in the South-South region of Nigeria . He attended Midwest College, Warri and Anglican Grammar School, and was a member of the Drama Club. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Benin .[ 1] In 1997, Mofe-Damijo returned to the university to study law at the University of Lagos , and graduated in 2004.[ 4] [ 9]
Career
After graduating from university with a Theatre Arts degree, Mofe-Damijo appeared in the soap opera Ripples as a police inspector but gained more popularity as villain Segun Kadiri in rival soap Checkmate . Before then, he had a stint as a writer with daily newspaper The Concord ,[ 10] and magazines Metro and Quality .[ 11] Out of Bounds was the first film for which he received a writer/producer credit.[ 1] [ 12] In 2005, at the maiden edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards , Mofe-Damijo won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role .[ 4] On 5th January 2017, he hosted the 2016 GLO-CAF Awards alongside Nigerian journalist Mimi Fawaz .[ 13] [ 14] On 8th December 2021, he won an award at Ghana, a Black Star Honor at the Rhymes on Da Runway in Gold coast, Ghana.[ 15]
Political career
Mofe-Damijo was appointed as the Special Adviser of Culture and Tourism[ 16] to the then Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2008, and was Delta State commissioner for culture and tourism 2009 and 2015.[ 5] [ 17]
Personal life
Mofe-Damijo was married to a journalist/publisher and talk show host May Ellen 'MEE' Ezekiel.[ 18] After her death in 1996, Mofe-Damijo married TV personality Jumobi Adegbesan, who later left TV presenting for the corporate world. Mofe-Damijo has five children: two with his current wife and three from his previous marriage.[ 19]
Selected filmography
Year
Film
Role
Notes
1997
Out of Bounds
Pastor Voke
with Bimbo Akintola & Racheal Oniga
Hostages
1998
Scores to Settle
with Liz Benson & Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Suicide Mission
with Regina Askia
1998
Diamond Ring
Chief Dike
with Liz Benson & Gbadewonuola Oyelakin aka Teju Babyface
1999
Freedom
1999
The Price
Pastor Ken
with Eucharia-Anunobi EKWU
2003
When God Says Yes
Harry
with Pete Edochie & Stella Damasus-Aboderin
The Richest Man
The Return
with Segun Arinze
The Intruder
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin & Rita Dominic
Soul Provider
with Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Romantic Attraction
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin , Chioma Chukwuka & Zack Orji
Private Sin
Pastor Jack
with Genevieve Nnaji , Stephanie Okereke , Olu Jacobs & Patience Ozokwor
Passions
with Genevieve Nnaji & Stella Damasus-Aboderin
Love
with Genevieve Nnaji & Segun Arinze
Keeping Faith: Is That Love?
with Genevieve Nnaji & Joke Silva
I Will Die for You
with Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde & Segun Arinze
Emotional Pain
Greg
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin
Ayomida
Police Officer Idama
2004
The Mayors
with Sam Dede & Segun Arinze
True Romance
Jim
with Rita Dominic & Desmond Elliot
The Legend
with Kate Henshaw-Nuttal
Standing Alone
Daniel
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin & Tony Umez
Sisters' Enemy
Queen
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin
Little Angel
Kings Pride
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin
I Want Your Wife
Eddy
Indecent Girl
Charles
with Ini Edo
Indecent Act
with Rita Dominic
I Believe in You
with Rita Dominic
Engagement Night
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin
Deadly Desire
Danger Signal
Dr. C.K. Morgan
with Desmond Elliot
Critical Decision
with Genevieve Nnaji & Stephanie Okereke
Burning Desire
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin & Mike Ezuruonye
Critical Assignment
The President
with Hakeem Kae-Kazim
2005
The Bridesmaid
Steve
with Chioma Chukwuka , Kate Henshaw-Nuttal & Stella Damasus-Aboderin
Darkest Night
with Genevieve Nnaji , Segun Arinze & Uche Jombo
Bridge-Stone
Gabriel
with Liz Benson & Zack Orji
Behind Closed Doors
with Stella Damasus-Aboderin , Desmond Elliot & Patience Ozokwor
Baby Girl
with Pete Edochie
2006
Angels of Destiny
with Emeka Ike, Lilian Bach
2007
Caught in the Middle
with Dakore Akande
2014
30 Days in Atlanta
Kimberley's father
with Ada Ameh, Ramsey Nouah
2016
Dinner
Adetunde George Snr
with Iretiola Doyle [ 20]
The Wedding Party
Felix Onwuka
with Sola Sobowale , Ireti Doyle & Adesua Etomi
The Grudge (2016 film)
Tayo Kindle
with Doyle and Funmi Holder[ 21]
2017
10 Days in Sun City
Otunba Ayoola Williams
with Ayo Makun & Adesua Etomi
2017
The Wedding Party 2
Felix Onwuka
with Sola Sobowale , Ireti Doyle & Adesua Etomi
2019
God Calling [ 22]
Sade's father
with Zainab Balogun , Kabiri Fubara, Adedamol Adedeoyin, Onyeka Onwenu , Seun Ajayi , Eku Eduwor, Seun Faqua
Love Is War
Dimeji Phillips
with Omoni Oboli
2020
The New Normal (2020 film)
Chairman
with Bimbo Akintola, Adunni Ade
2021
Fine Wine
Seye George
with Ego Nwosu, Nse Ikpe-Etim , Keppy Ekpenyong and Zainab Balogun
King of Boys: The Return
of the King
Reverend Ifeanyi
with Sola Sobowale , Toni Tones , Reminisce and Illbliss
2021
Christmas in Miami [ 23]
Dafe
with Ayo Makun
2022
Boycott
Bui
with Yemi Blaq , Kunle Coker, Tolulope Asanu
2022
4:4:44
Hillary
With Chiwetalu Agu, Betsy Akan, Seun Akindele
2022
Palava!
Osa Wonda
With Mercy Aigbe, Bisola Aiyeola, Neo Akpofure
2022
Far From Home
Feyi Wilmer Willoughby
With Funke Akindele, Adesuwa Etomi - Wellington
2023
The Black Book
Paul Edima
with Ade Laoye , Sam Dede , Shaffy Bello
Tarella: Princess of the Nile
King Ohen
With Onyinye Ezekwe, Timini Egbuson, Esosa Lawson
Shanty Town
Chief Fernandez
With Chidi Mokeme, Nse Ikpe Etim, Ini Edo
TV shows
Awards and nominations
References
^ a b c Ogunbayo, Modupe. "Richard Mofe-Damijo: An Actor's Actor" . Newswatch . Lagos, Nigeria: Newswatch . Retrieved 24 August 2010 .
^ "RMD Net Worth, Cars & Latest Biography in 2021" . Latest car news, car blog news in Nigeria, car import duties in Nigeria, latest car release . 21 September 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021 .
^ Godwin, Ameh Comrade (30 November 2012). "Former Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo in N50m embezzlement scandal" . Daily Post Nigeria . Retrieved 12 June 2023 .
^ a b c Akande, Victor (28 November 2009). "New world of A-list stars blacklisted in 2005" . The Nation . Lagos, Nigeria: Vintage Press Limited. Retrieved 24 August 2010 .
^ a b "Delta State Government swears in two new Commissioners" . Retrieved 26 January 2010 .
^ Ekechukwu, Ferdinand (27 October 2018). "For RMD, It's Good News from Kigali" . Thisday Live . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
^ Ekpai, Joan (14 June 2016). "RMD receives Lifetime Achievement award from Pete Edochie (AMAA 2016)" . Nollywood Community . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
^ Reporters, Our (12 May 2024). "AMVCA 2024: Iya Rainbow, RMD bag Lifetime awards as Bankole, Ojo win best actors" . Punch Newspapers . Retrieved 12 May 2024 .
^ Balogun, Sola. "Acting on stage is my greatest passion" . Daily Sun . Lagos, Nigeria: The Sun Publishing Limited. Retrieved 24 August 2010 .
^ "After Concord Newspaper died, it felt like I lost a baby –Mike Awoyinfa" . 15 September 2018.
^ "Richard Mofe-Damijo: Profile of an iconic Nollywood actor" . P.M. News . 8 May 2020.
^ "Richard Mofe-Damijo – Profile" . New York City: African Film Festival. Retrieved 24 August 2010 .
^ "Mimi Fawaz and Richard Mofe-Damijo to emcee 2016 Glo-Caf Awards" . CAFOnline.com . Confedération Africaine du Football (CAF). Retrieved 6 November 2021 .
^ "Mimi Fawaz and Richard Mofe-Damijo to compere 2016 Glo-Caf Awards" . Goal.com . 4 January 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2021 .
^ "Richard Mofe-Damijo honoured in Ghana - P.M. News" . Retrieved 12 December 2021 .
^ "Special Adviser or not im still an actor RMD" . thenigerianvoice.com . Retrieved 29 August 2019 .
^ "Comedian mocks RMD" . AllAfrica.com . Retrieved 29 August 2019 .
^ "Remembering May Ezekiel, 21 years after" . 25 March 2017.
^ "RMD: Two Decades of Screen Romance" . Retrieved 26 January 2010 .
^ "Dinner" . IMDb .
^ "FUNMI HOLDER: The Nigerian Actress Who Went Back in Time" . 19 January 2020.
^ "God Calling Movie" . IMDb . Retrieved 13 June 2019 .
^ Peters, Robert (24 December 2021), Christmas in Miami (Comedy), Manoj Chandra, Verne Alexandre, John Amos, retrieved 8 October 2023
^ "Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees" . AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees . Retrieved 23 April 2023 .
^ Somto, Bisina (20 May 2023). "Tobi Bakre Wins Best Actor 2023 AMVCA For 'Brotherhood' – Prime Business Africa" . Prime Business Africa . Retrieved 10 June 2023 .
External links