Veteran Nollywood actor Lere Paimo, popularly known as Eda Onileola, has reportedly died at 86.
ThemomentNG reports that celebrity journalist and Chairman of the Best of Nollywood Awards, Seun Oleketuyi, announced the death of the movie star in an Instagram post on Saturday.
According to Oleketuyi, Paimo, a cultural icon, survived a stroke twice before his demise.
He wrote, “Chief Lere Paimo (MON) is dead. Baba died at age 86.
“A strong man. Baba survived stroke twice.
“May Baba’s soul rest in peace.”
Paimo was one of the most influential figures in Yoruba theatre and film, with a career spanning over six decades.
Born in September 1939 in Oyo State, he began acting in 1958 after joining the Oyin Adejobi Theatre Group.
He later moved to the Duro Ladipo Theatre, where he featured in major productions, including the stage play Obamoro, in which he played “Chief Basa”.
His breakout performance came with his lead role as Soun Ogunola in the Yoruba epic Ogbori Elemosho, which brought him national fame and established him as a household name in traditional theatre and film.
Since 1963, Paimo has featured in, produced, and directed several acclaimed Yoruba films, which include Agogo Eewo (2002), The Narrow Path (2006), Moremi Ajasoro (2009), Saworoide (1999), O Le Ku (1997), The Campus Queen (2004), and Arugba (2008).
In recognition of his contributions to the Nigerian film industry, Paimo was awarded the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005.
In 2014, he won a ₦1m prize on the TV game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
