The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, has revealed that late Nollywood actor Junior Pope displayed signs of life when he was rushed to the hospital.
Despite being underwater for over two hours, there were slight movements in the actor’s fingers, leading those present to believe he had survived. This prompted the Guild to announce his miraculous survival publicly.
However, the AGN President later shared on social media that despite efforts by health professionals to resuscitate him, Junior Pope passed away on Wednesday evening. It was a heartbreaking turn of events as the initial excitement turned to grief. Four corpses, including Junior Pope’s, were identified, while three others are yet to be found.
Junior Pope tragically died during a boat trip in Asaba, the Delta State capital in Nigeria. The boat capsized, leading to his drowning along with two other unidentified actors. A talented actor, Junior Pope joined the Nollywood industry in 2006 and worked his way up by attending auditions and playing minor roles in movies.
His breakthrough came in 2007 when he starred in the blockbuster movie “Secret Adventures”, directed by Tchidi Chikere. Known for playing roles such as bodyguards, palace attendants, and villains, Junior Pope acted in over 150 Nollywood movies, showcasing his versatility and talent.
In 2010, he was recognized for his outstanding performance and won the award for Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards. His dedication to his craft and memorable performances earned him additional accolades, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice (AMVC) Awards and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy (AMA) Awards.
