Richard Mofe Damijo

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Richard Mofe Damijo, also known as RMD is a Nollywood actor. Having starred in numerous movies he is one of Nigeria's highest earning actors and is often referred to as Nigeria's Denzel Washington. He was once married to the Nigerian Journalist Late May Ellen Ezekiel.

Contents

[edit] Childhood

Richard Mofe-Damijo was born on July 6, 1961 in Delta State in Nigeria. His full name is Richard Evans Eyimofe Mofe-Damijo. He is from a family of 18 children.[1] . While he has many siblings through his father’s polygamous relationships, he is the only child of his mother and is thus strongly bonded to her. Living with his mother, he learned to perform most women’s chores. Therefore, it is not surprising that he is a good cook. Growing up, Richard learned to speak English, Pidgin and Urhobo. [2]

[edit] Education

While a student, Richard Mofe-Damijo acted in several stage productions and continuing till now, he still loves the stage. He was educated at Midwest College, Warri and Anglican Grammar School, Okpara Waterside, near Sapele in the Old Bendel State. Thereafter, he studied for his A-levels, before gaining admission into University of Benin[3] He graduated from the University of Benin as a theater artist specializing in dramatic theory and criticism. This was from 1980-1983 (B.A.Hons), and he studied law from 1999-2004 at the University of Lagos[2]. Richard’s talent started revealing itself when he was a young boy playing in his Warri, Delta State neighborhood. In primary school, he took the roles of Jesus or Peter in biblical dramas. In secondary school, he was a member of the drama club where he played both male and female roles. He was also involved in martial arts. This made it a natural transition for him to proceed to the Theater Arts Department of University of Benin. From his first year, he started playing lead roles, which provided clear evidence of his talent and charisma. In 1982, while RMD was still in University, he played the lead character “Emeka” in “Echoes of Wrath”. This was his first exposure on television. Fortunately for RMD, “Echoes of Wrath” won the Nigerian Television Authority national annual drama competition and so the film was syndicated to all NTA stations nationwide and thus he became a drama celebrity[3]

[edit] Interests

RMD's hobbies as poetry, traveling, and writing[4] .He likes playing squash[1].RMD loves Nigerian music, specifically artists such as Rex Lawson, Victor Uwaifo, Fela Kuti, Bongos, Ikwe, Tunji Oyelana, and 2face Idibia. He also says that he is old school and thus enjoys listening to Chris Okotie, R. Kelly, Prince and Elton John. His greatest passion, however, is acting on stage. RMD says that it is challenging, spontaneous, and involves direct audience participation.[2]

[edit] Early Jobs and Career

RMD’s first jobs as included holiday jobs and working as a clerk. As a clerk, he was paid N200. Now, he runs a Public relations company called ‘Whitewater’[2].Shortly after graduating from university, he took part in a television soap opera in the 1980s called Ripples. But before then, he had a stint with Concord Newspapers. This proved valuable later on. During his first marriage to late Mee-Mofe-Damijo, a foremost Nigerian journalist, he worked briefly with her when she founded Classique magazine. Later, he quit Classique to publish Mister Magazine, now defunct. After Mee’s death in 1996, he remarried in 1999 to Jumobi, a former television and radio presenter. Presently, he has five children. While many looked forward to seeing him in his scintillating performance on the weekly soap which ran for eight years, his best was yet to come.[1] The name of the first productions he joined after graduating was called Ajo productions. The audition was a walk over and he got the lead role. RMD, unusually a lover of his critics, relishes in the satisfaction of being paid to do what he loves most. Thus, for him, life is to a large extent a continuous game [3].RMD also acted in ‘Spacs’, ‘Checkmate’. His role models and idols in those days were Denzel Washington, Al Pacino and Jimi Solanke[2] As at 1995-2004, RMD had acted in 30 films like ‘Violated’, ‘Out of Bounds’, ‘The Price’ etc[2]. He starred in 100 plays on stage and has performed also on the London stage in a Nigerian adaptation of Macbeth and also in the famous Dionysian festival in Italy. “Out of Bounds” is the first film for which he received a writer/producer credit.Furthermore, the film has won many awards in Nigeria, including best actress and best soundtrack [5]

[edit] Filmography

The films Richard Mofe Damijo has acted in include[6]

  1. Behind Closed Doors (2005)V[1]
  2. Behind Closed Doors 2 (2005)V
  3. The Bridesmaid (2005)V
  4. Bridge-Stone (2005)
  5. Bridge-Stone 2 (2005)
  6. Critical Assignment (2004)
  7. Critical Decision (2004)V
  8. Critical Decision 2 (2004)V
  9. Engagement Night (2004) V
  10. Engagement Night 2 (2004) V
  11. Indecent Act (2004) V
    one movie
  12. Indecent Girl(2004) V
  13. Indecent Girl 2(2004) V
  14. Kings Pride (2004) V
  15. Little Angel (2004) V
  16. True Romance (2004/I)V
  17. True Romance 2 (2004) V
  18. Ayomida (2003) V
  19. Ayomida 2 (2003) V
  20. Emotional Pain (2003)
  21. The Intruder 2 (2003) V
  22. The Intruder (2003) V
  23. I will Die for you (2003) V
    one movie
  24. Keeping Faith: Is that Love? (2003) V
  25. Love (2003) V
  26. Private Sin (2003) V
  27. Private Sin 2 (2003) V
  28. Soul Provider (2003) V
  29. Out of Bounds (1997) V

The names of some other videos are ‘Flesh and Blood’, ‘Violated’, ‘Shame’, ‘Haunted’, ‘Scores to Settle’, ‘Amadas’, ‘Sucide Mission’, ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Diamond Ring’, ‘Vigilante’, ‘The Return’[4] . Also,there are other films such as ‘Keeping Faith’, ‘When God says Yes’ and ‘Intimate Strangers’[7]. more Amadas Ayomida 1 Ayomida 2 Baby Girl 1 Baby Girl 2 Burning Desire 1 Burning Desire 2 Darkest Night 1 Darkest Night 2 Diamind Ring 2 Glorified I Believe In You 1 I Believe In You 2 I Want Your Wife 1 I Want Your Wife 2 Intimate Strangers Keeping Faith Love Made In Heaven Passions Private Sin 2 Queen 1 Queen 2 Romantic Attraction Sisters' Enemy 1 Standing Alone 1 Standing Alone 2 The Legend 1 The Legend 2 The Mayors 1 The Mayors 2 The Messenger 1 The Messenger 2 The Price The Return To Rise Again

[edit] Awards Received

Awards Awarded By Date
Actor of Decade Awo varsity Lit & English Studies Society 1998
Distinguished Service Award
for Performance in Dramatic Arts		 Gold Image Awards Delta State 1998
Award of Excellence Media Link'98 1998
Best English Actor Fame movie Awards 1998
Best Actor of the year Fame Movie Awards 1998
Masters Award Masters Award 1998
Outstanding Young Persons Award Unilag Junior Chambers 1998
Outstanding Young Persons Award Nigerian Junior Chambers 1998
Best Actor (Gospel Movies) Christian Awards Committee 1999

[4]


Best actor in the Movie ‘Critical Decision’ and best actor overall for the year 2005[8]

[edit] Conclusion

RMD being casted in Critical Assignment which is an international film with the South African superstar Michael Power demonstrates the calibre of his acting abilities. In addition, the number of awards he has received from both Nigeria and the international community shows that he deserves to be known as one of the best actors in Nigeria. Furthermore, the film he produced won the award for ‘the best soundtrack of the year’.To most people RMD is simultaneously a talented actor, an achiever, a role model, and moreover the embodiment of the Nigerian dream.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Ogunbayo, M. (2005, January 18). Richard Mofe-Damijo: An Actor’s Actor. Online Nigeria. Retrieved March 26, 2006,From http://www.nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=570&z=23
  2. ^ a b c d e f RMD- True Screen Legend. (2005). Naija Community. Retrieved March 26, 2006, from www.naijacommunity.com/entertainment-articles.php?AID=44
  3. ^ a b c d Richard Mofe-Damijo: Nigeria’s highest paid actor. Once again I am outside Winnis Hotel, with RMD proclaiming his…. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from http://www.nigerianartes.com/nollywoodinterview/RICHARD%20MOFE%20Damijo.pdf
  4. ^ a b c Richard Mofe Damijo. (1999). Nigeria Exchange Entertainment. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from http://www.ngex.com/entertainment/pages/rmd.htm
  5. ^ Richard Mofe-Damijo. Retrieved March 26, 2006 fromhttp://www.africanfilmny.org/archive/other/ao014.html
  6. ^ Richard Mofe-Damijo. (2006). Internet Movie Database Inc. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from http://poll.imdb.com/name/nm1816193/
  7. ^ List of ‘Richard Mofe Damijo’ movies. (2003). AllAfrican Movies.com. Retrieved March 26, 2006, from http://www.allafricanmovies.com/person_movies.php?actor=Richard%20Mofe%20Damijo
  8. ^ AMMA Awards 2005- Nigeria Movies on Naija-rules.com(Nollywood.Naija Rules! (05-26-2005, 05:23 am.Retrieved April 13, 2006,from http://www.naijarules.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8213
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