Veteran Nollywood actor, Olusegun Akinremi, widely known by his stage name Chief Kanran, has passed away at the age of 70.
The news of his death was confirmed on Friday by movie executive and producer Seun Oloketuyi, who made the announcement in an Instagram post earlier in the day.
He wrote, “Popular actor Segun Remi popularly known as Chief Kanran died Friday morning. Details soon.”
Chief Kanran was a celebrated figure in the Yoruba film industry, famed for his distinctive acting style, refined elegance, love for luxury, sharp humour, and magnetic stage presence. His commanding performances graced both stage plays and movies for decades, earning him a revered place in Nollywood history.
Kanran’s life, career, and personal struggles
Chief Kanran began his academic journey at the Centre for Cultural Studies, University of Lagos, before advancing his studies at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). He later hosted a television programme on MTV in Lagos before making a full transition into filmmaking.
With a career spanning several decades, Kanran left an indelible mark in Nollywood, often cast in the roles of wealthy and influential characters. He began acting professionally in 1975 and became a household name through his performances in both English and Yoruba-language productions.
He featured in popular TV soap operas such as ‘Images’, ‘Mirror in the Sun’, and ‘Megafortune’. His impressive filmography includes celebrated titles like ‘Vigilante’, ‘Ose-Sango’, ‘Eri Okan’, ‘Itunnu’, ‘Eewo’, ‘Idunnu’, ‘Orire’, ‘Ofa Oro’, ‘Ajaka Oko’, ‘Great Bird of Eternity’, ‘Shattered Bridge’, ‘Oba Oluaiye’, ‘Bibi Ire’, ‘Ilu le’, and ‘150 Million’.
In 2021, the veteran actor spoke candidly about the personal hardships he endured. He revealed that he had been attacked by armed robbers and suffered a devastating loss when his production equipment was destroyed in a 2017 fire incident.
These misfortunes, he said, left him homeless and forced to sleep near church premises. At the time, he made a public appeal for support, seeking shelter, transportation, and filmmaking equipment to help him rebuild his life and continue his career.