Ernest Obi: Biography, Career, Movies & More

Ernest Obi is a famous Nollywood actor, director, producer, television personality, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He is one of the most creative and talented actors in the Nigerian movie industry.

The actor became popular when he featured in the movie, Glamour Girls. He played the role of the guy that used to cook in the kitchen and wash his girl friend’s underwear.

In this post, you’ll get to discover some interesting things about this talented Nollywood actor.

Early life and Education

Ernest Obi was born on the 21st of June 1970 in Anambra State, Nigeria. The actor comes from a royal family. His father was the Oba 1 of Ukpor. His mum, Princess Eugenia Uzoamaka Nwachinemere Egwuh was his first wife. He lost his mother a few years ago.

Ernest has 8 siblings as his mother had 9 children. He grew up in Lagos State where he attended Onward Nursery and Primary School in Surulere before proceeding to Baptist Academy Secondary School.

He bagged a degree in Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife, where he majored in directing.

Career

The actor joined Nollywood in 1995, a few years after graduating from the University.

Prior to his sojourn into acting, Ernest Obi was the manager of shipping line but he revealed he wasn’t happy in that career path.

When he began acting, his mother initially felt he was too intelligent to be an actor. But when she realised that he was bent on acting, she decided to let him be.

Ernest has featured in over 200 Nollywood movies since he began acting in 1995. Some of the movies include Daytime Lovers, Love Crime, Italian Deal, Last True Sacrifice, All I Have, Idemili, Calabash, Blood Money, Deep Bondage and My Angel.

After acting for a few years, Ernest relocated temporarily to America where he studied movie directing, cinematography and editing at the New York Film Academy.

His decision to travel to New York was due to the lapses he noticed in movie directing in Nollywood which he sought to correct.

Awards

Ernest Obi directed the movie, ‘Idemili’ which earned him an award for Best Creative Director at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Some of his other awards include:

  • Most Prominent Actor in Nigeria at the Africa Movie Academy Awards,
  • Best Creative Director at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award,
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Best of Nollywood Awards
  • Most Promising Act to Watch at the City People Entertainment Awards.

Marriage

Ernest Obijiofor married actress, Evi Oki. The actress hails from Isoko in Delta State. The couple dated for 8 years before tying the knot.

Their wedding was attended by the likes of Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Justus Esiri, Segun Arinze, Emeka Enyiocha, Tony Ani and Andy Chukwu.

Their marriage is blessed with beautiful kids. The actor revealed that his wife is one person that can tell him to his face that he is wrong

As a married man, Ernest Obi recently advised intending couples about marriage in an interview. According to the actor, people should never get married out of pity and he also disclosed that love isn’t enough most of the time rather it is trust that keeps the marriage together.

Controversy

Ernest was embroiled in a controversy many years ago when his estranged lover accused him of raping their daughter. She went on to disclose that he had impregnated her severally and even subjected her to several abortions.

The actor revealed that the woman in question decided to spread the false rumours when she heard he was getting married.

According to Ernest Obi, this wasn’t just a controversy; it was also an embarassing moment as the incident almost truncated his wedding plans. His fiancee’s friends turned her into a laughing stock but she didn’t budge as she believed he was innocent.

The actor revealed that she eventually called him to apologize and he has since forgiven his ex and move on with his life.

Actor Guild of Nigeria

Ernest was the former Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria.

During his time as chairman, Ernest Obi was quite vocal about actors and actresses identifying with the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria which he believes could serve as a reliable organization which the stars could run to in times of crises.

Nollywood

Critics of Nollywood have emphasized the fact there are usually too many ritual scenes in movies. But Ernest Obi responded to such claims by stating that, these are the things that captivate the African audience.

The actor also defended the allegations that movie directors sleep with actresses before giving them roles by stating that such misdemeanour is common to every industry.

Additionally, the actor put the blame on the actresses stating that they do little to avoid such scenario. According to him, some of these actresses come to the movie location dressed indecently while allowing the movie director touch them inappropriately. In some cases, these actresses are asked to come pick a movie script in the dead of the night at the director’s hotel room and they oblige.

Ernest Obi concluded by saying that often times when an actress claims that she’s been harassed by a movie director or producer, it is usually the other way round.

The actor also addressed the issue of directors casting the same set of old faces in movies by stating that those are the people the fans want to see as a result casting the same old faces ensure that marketers recoup their investment.

However, the actor proposed the solution to this challenge as the introduction of film funds which will reduce the dependence on marketers from Idumota in Lagos and Iweka road in Onitsha.

Ernest Obi also spoke about the spate of kidnapping affecting the industry in which the likes of Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh and Mr Ibu have been victims.

You May Also Like

Jeff Daniels’s Net Worth, Biography, Career, Awards, Fact and Life Story

Jeff Daniels Net Worth: Jeff Daniels is an American actor, musician, and writer who has a net worth of $45 million. Daniels has appeared in more than 80 film and television projects, and he has had a successful career as a Tony-nominated stage actor, performing on Broadway in “Fifth of July” (1980), “The Golden Age” (1984), “Redwood Curtain” (1993), “God of Carnage” (2009–2010), “Blackbird” (2016), and “To Kill a Mockingbird” (2018–2019). Jeff is the founder of the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan, and he has written numerous plays for the organization. He made his big screen debut in 1981’s “Ragtime,” which he followed up with a performance in the Academy Award winner “Terms of Endearment.” Daniels has gone on to appear in films such as “Something Wild” (1986), “Arachnophobia” (1990), “Dumb and Dumber” (1994), “The Hours” (2002), and “The Squid and the Whale” (2005), and he starred as Will McAvoy on the HBO series “The Newsroom” from 2012 to 2014. He co-wrote and directed the films “Escanaba in da Moonlight” (2001) and “Super Sucker” (2002), and he wrote and produced 2019’s “Guest Artist.” Jeff has also released the studio albums “Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged,” “Jeff Daniels Live at The Purple Rose Theater,” “Grandfather’s Hat,” “Keep It Right Here,” “Together Again,” “Days Like These,” and “Alive And Well Enough.”Early Life: Jeff Daniels was born Jeffrey Warren Daniels on February 19, 1955, in Athens, Georgia. When Jeff was 6 weeks old, his parents, Marjorie and Bob, moved the family to Michigan. Daniels and his siblings, Jodi and John, grew up in a Methodist household in Chelsea, where their father owned a lumber company; Bob also served as the town’s mayor in the early 1960s. After graduating from high school, Jeff enrolled at Central Michigan University and got involved in the theatre program, and in 1976, he took part in a Bicentennial Repertory program at Eastern Michigan University’s drama school. Guest director Marshall W. Mason invited Daniels to work at New York City’s Circle Repertory Theatre, and he appeared in Lanford Wilson’s “Fifth of July” during the company’s 1977–1978 season. He later appeared in a 1979 production of “The Shortchanged Review” at Second Stage Theatre.Career: “Fifth of July” moved to Broadway in 1980, and Daniels earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. That year he also made his television debut on an episode of “Hawaii Five-O,” and his film debut came the following year when he played P.C. O’Donnell in “Ragtime.” His next film, 1983’s “Terms of Endearment,” won an Oscar for Best Picture, and he then appeared in 1985’s “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” which earned him a Golden Globe nomination and inspired the name of his theatre company. Jeff received another Golden Globe nomination for 1986’s “Something Wild,” and he began the 1990s by starring in “Arachnophobia” and “Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael.” He hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 1991 (he would host again in 1995), then he starred in the 1992 science-fiction film “Timescape” and portrayed Colonel Joshua Chamberlain in 1993’s “Gettysburg,” a role he would reprise in 2003’s “Gods and Generals.” In 1994, Daniels appeared in the blockbuster film “Speed,” which grossed $350.4 million at the box office, and co-starred with Jim Carrey in the comedy “Dumb and Dumber.” The film was a hit, bringing in $247.3 million worldwide, and the duo reprised the roles of Harry Dunne and Lloyd Christmas in 2014’s “Dumb and Dumber To.”In 1996, Daniels starred in “Fly Away Home,” “2 Days in the Valley,” and the Disney film “101 Dalmatians,” another hit, with a worldwide gross of $320.7 million. He co-starred with Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire in 1998’s “Pleasantville,” and he portrayed George Washington in the 2000 television film “The Crossing.” In 2002, Jeff starred in “The Hours” with Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore, and the cast received Best Ensemble honors from the Awards Circuit Community Awards and Gold Derby Awards. He then appeared in the 2004 television film “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” and the 2005 feature films “The Squid and the Whale,” “Because of Winn-Dixie,” and “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Daniels portrayed Alvin Dewey in 2006’s Truman Capote biopic “Infamous,” then appeared in the political thrillers “Traitor” (2008) and “State of Play” (2009). He co-starred with John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph in 2009’s “Away We Go,” then he starred in “Paper Man” (2009) and “Howl” (2010).In 2012, Jeff began starring on “The Newsroom,” which earned him a Primetime Emmy as well as nominations from the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He appeared in the films “Steve Jobs” (2015), “The Martian” (2015), and “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” (2016), then played Frank Griffin in the 2017 Netflix miniseries “Godless.” In 2018, Daniels appeared in “The Catcher Was a Spy” and portrayed John O’Neill in the Hulu miniseries “The Looming Tower.” In 2020, Jeff played FBI director James Comey in the Showtime miniseries “The Comey Rule,” co-starred with Aaron Paul in the film “Adam,” and narrated the miniseries “Washington” on the History Channel. In 2019, it was announced that Jeff had been cast as the lead on the Showtime series “Rust” and would also serve as an executive producer.Personal Life: Jeff married Kathleen Rosemary Treado on July 13, 1979, and they have three children, daughter Nellie (born 1990) and sons Benjamin (born 1984) and Lucas (born 1987). Daniels moved back to his hometown in 1986, and he owns an “affordable video and audio company,” 2188 Studio, and a theatre company there. He established the Purple Rose Theatre Company in 1991, and it is described as “the home of world-class, original American theatre in Chelsea, MI.” Jeff has served as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s spokesman, and in 2006, he was inducted into the Michigan Walk of Fame. He gave a commencement speech at the University of Michigan in December 2009 and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts. Daniels endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election and narrated a pro-Biden campaign ad titled “America Needs Michigan” in which he stated “Michigan deserves a president who believes in things like decency, honesty and respect.”Awards and Nominations: Daniels has been nominated for five Primetime Emmys, winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for “The Newsroom” in 2013 and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for “Godless” in 2018. He has earned Golden Globe nominations for “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” “Something Wild,” “The Squid and the Whale,” “The Newsroom,” and “The Comey Rule,” and he has received five Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Jeff won a Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films for “Arachnophobia,” a Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award for “Timescape,” an Online Film & Television Association Award for “Godless,” and an Audience Award at the 2002 US Comedy Arts Festival for “Super Sucker.”Daniels was honored with an Independent Career Achievement Award by the Video Software Dealers Association in 2002, and he received an Honorary Lady Harimaguada award at the 2008 Las Palmas Film Festival. He won a Chlotrudis Award for “The Squid and the Whale,” and “Guest Artist” earned him Best Actor awards at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, New York City Independent Film Festival, and SENE Film, Music and Art Festival. For his work on the stage, Jeff has earned Tony nominations for Best Actor in a Play for “God of Carnage,” “Blackbird,” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Read More