Legendary Nollywood actor Emmanuel France has died at 84. The news of his death broke on Monday, September 16 after his colleague and filmmaker Olufemi Ogedengbe, announced it on his Instagram page. Ogedengbe while expressing his condolences, described the late actor as a legend and an uncle and reminisced about their collaboration in Tanzania in 2006 where he worked on three film projects with the late actor.
Cross My Sin, She is My Sister and the Director were the movies they collaborated on. The cause of his death remains unknown. His passing comes just days after the death of fellow Nollywood actor Big Larry. Born in Kano State, he joined the Nigerian movie industry in the ’80s and was renowned for playing Witch Doctor roles in Nollywood films. The late actor was also famous for the catchphrase ‘Tufancha,’ a word which he repeatedly used in the classic Nollywood film Suicide Mission.
His other movie credits include Oganigwe, Narrow Escape, Witches, Silent Night, Exile and Silent Night. The cause of his death remains unknown. His passing comes just days after the death of fellow Nollywood actor Big Larry. Born in Kano State, he joined the Nigerian movie industry in the ’80s and was renowned for playing Witch Doctor roles in Nollywood films. The late actor was also famous for the catchphrase ‘Tufancha,’ a word which he repeatedly used in the classic Nollywood film Suicide Mission.
France’s nationality has always been debated as many believed he was a Ghanaian but in an interview with Modern Ghana in 2011, the actor described himself as a product of a united nation. His professional career began in Ghana when he studied at the School of Journalism in Accra. He also started writing scripts while in Ghana and wrote his first script, a stage play, in 1967 for the Catholic Church titled the “Mission of John the Baptist.”
