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Nollywood Actor Taiwo Hassan ‘Ogogo’ Dies at 66 After Cancer Battle
Veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has died at the age of 66 after battling cancer. Hassan died on Sunda...
By Wavers Multimedia
Hassan died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after his health deteriorated in recent days. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Kira Taiwo, during an emotional live session on Instagram.
The development came just days after the actor’s family publicly disclosed that he was battling stage-four cancer and appealed to medical professionals and hospitals for assistance in finding further treatment options.
His daughters, Kira and Lima Taiwo, had earlier explained that doctors had informed the family that chemotherapy could no longer be administered, prompting them to seek other possible medical interventions.
The actor’s condition had drawn concern across the Yoruba film industry, with several of his colleagues gathering in Lagos on Friday for a special prayer session as they hoped for his recovery.
A career spanning decades
Taiwo Hassan was born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State. He began his acting career in 1981 and eventually became one of the recognisable faces of Yoruba-language cinema.
Before becoming a full-time actor, Hassan worked as an automobile mechanic and was also employed by the Lagos State Water Corporation. He left his government job in 1994 to concentrate fully on his entertainment career.
Over the course of his career, Ogogo worked as an actor, producer, director and screenwriter, appearing in numerous Yoruba and English-language productions.
Among the films associated with his career were Owo Blow, Agbelebu, Omo Ghetto, Omin, Tenant of the House, Bank Alert and Aníkúlápó. His appearance in Aníkúlápó also introduced his work to a younger generation of viewers.
Hassan’s death marks another loss for Nigeria’s film industry, particularly the Yoruba movie community where he spent more than four decades building his career.
His remains are expected to be taken to his hometown, Ilaro, ahead of his burial scheduled for Monday, August 24, according to an announcement by veteran actor Jide Kosoko.