Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
Taiwo Hassan, known to millions as Ogogo, passed away on Sunday following a brave fight against stage-four cancer
VETERAN Nollywood actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has died at the age of 66 after a battle with stage-four cancer.
The beloved Yoruba actor passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026. His daughter, Kira Hassan, confirmed the devastating news during an emotional Instagram Live session, where she struggled to contain her grief whilst breaking the news to family members and followers.
“My daddy is dead. I can’t believe it,” Kira said, surrounded by family members during the heart-wrenching broadcast. She also appealed for assistance to return home to join her family for her father’s burial.
A family friend confirmed the death in a phone conversation with Channels Television, whilst veteran actor Jide Kosoko separately confirmed the development.
Hassan’s death came just days after his family publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with stage-four cancer, sparking an outpouring of grief from colleagues, friends, fans and other members of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Cancer Battle
The family’s ordeal became public in mid-August when his daughters, Kira and Haleemah, made emotional appeals for medical assistance. They revealed that doctors had diagnosed their father with advanced cancer approximately three weeks earlier.
According to the family, his condition had initially been treated as an ulcer before further medical examinations revealed the severity of the illness. The cancer had affected his abdomen, leaving him with a swollen stomach and severe pain.
The family appealed to medical experts, hospitals and other specialists to help explore possible treatment options after doctors indicated that conventional treatment had become difficult because of the advanced stage of the disease. They stressed that they were primarily seeking medical assistance and expertise rather than financial donations.
The family also disclosed that Ogogo had obtained an Indian visa for treatment but was later declared medically unfit to travel.
As news of his deteriorating health spread, several individuals offered assistance. However, the family faced the challenge of assessing the numerous treatment suggestions whilst ensuring that he remained under appropriate medical care.
There were also reports of people offering expensive alternative treatment options, prompting Kira to caution against individuals attempting to profit from the actor’s condition.
A false report of his death also circulated on social media days before his eventual passing. The family dismissed the report at the time and urged the public to disregard the misinformation. His condition, however, deteriorated rapidly in the days that followed.
Actor Saheed Balogun, whilst confirming the death, described the development as painful and prayed for the repose of Ogogo’s soul.
Four-Decade Career
Ogogo, who was born October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State, was one of the prominent figures in Yoruba-language Nollywood, with a career spanning more than four decades.
He began his acting journey on stage before moving into professional film and television. His career grew alongside the development of Nigeria’s Yoruba film industry, where he became known for his commanding voice, powerful screen presence and portrayal of culturally rooted characters. He was particularly recognised for roles as traditional rulers, chiefs, warriors, stern fathers and other authoritative figures.
His breakthrough came during the growth of the Nigerian home-video industry, with his appearance in Owo Blow, directed by Tade Ogidan, further raising his profile. His performance earned him the THEMA Best Actor award in 1997.
Over the years, he appeared in numerous Yoruba and mainstream Nollywood productions, including Omin, Elewon, Omo Ghetto, Atitebi, Agbelebu, Dr Brown, Bolode O’ku, Obinrin Sowanu, Aye O, Tenant of the House, Amerah, Bank Alert and ÌGÈ.
He also featured in more recent productions, including Kunle Afolayan’s Aníkúlápó, released in 2022, in which he played Alaafin Ademuyiwa. He reprised the role in Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre in 2024.
Beyond acting, Hassan worked as a filmmaker, producer and screenwriter, contributing to several productions throughout his career.
His contributions to the industry earned him several recognitions, including the City People Movie Lifetime Achievement Award and other honours for his work in Nigerian cinema.
Ogogo’s career was closely associated with the development and preservation of Yoruba storytelling on screen. Through his roles, he frequently portrayed characters and social settings rooted in Yoruba culture, helping to carry traditional themes into contemporary Nigerian cinema.
For many of his colleagues and admirers, Hassan’s death marks the end of an era for an actor whose career stretched from the stage and early home-video period of Nigerian cinema to modern film and streaming productions.
He is survived by his wives and children. Funeral arrangements are expected to be conducted according to Islamic rites.
