Rest in Peace – Nollywood Pioneer Actor Justus Esiri is Dead
Posted on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 at 7:27 AMBy BellaNaija.com
Veteran Nollywood, Stage and TV Actor Justus Esiri has passed away.
Born in November 1942 in Delta State, the 70 year old actor who found widespread acclaim for his role on the iconic Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) TV “Village Headmaster” was one of the pioneers who took the leap and helped lay the foundation for the Nollywood that we know and love today.
His official profile on the Africa Movie Academy Awards website notes that “the veteran actor has won several awards for his acting exploits including THEMA Awards, NTA Honours Awards and AMAA Awards. Esiri star of acclaimed productions like Wasted Years, Forever, The Prize, Six Demons, Corridors of Power, Last Knight, The Tyrant, The investigation, The Ghost is reputed to have performed on more TV Network drama programmes than any Nigerian actor.”
In 2012, he was conferred with the national honours of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
According to reports, the Thespian died during the late hours of Tuesday 19th February 2013. He is survived by his wife Omiete and children including Nigerian music star Dr Sid (Sidney Esiri).
We will miss you Sir!
Tags: Justus Esiri
RIP
Omg!!!!, may his soul rest in peace. Will miss you…crying………xxx
Tears just rolled down, I will surely miss this man.heroic actor, great personality.RIP.
RIP Sir
Chai….Rest in perfect peace Sir…u will be truely missed!!… but i am consoled that your in a better place.
Fantastic actor, one of my absolute nollywood favourites. Rest in the bossom of your maker sir. I pray his family finds comfort in knowing that he lived long and lived well. Take heart Sid.
so sry 4 a very dia friend who was marrid to my sis, may his soul rip s o b b i n g!
OMG, May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace
I’m Still to recover from Goldie’s death…. So Sad to hear about his death. Apparently, our entertainment industry needs some serious prayer for all, we cant continue losing great talents to the hands of Death. In everything though, God be Praised. R.I.P Justice Esiri. You were a Rare Gem. @Chris_ayojoseph
T.B Joshua predicted the vast death of celebrities and politicians in 2013.
Awww!
RIP SIR!
smh……..may his soul rest in the bossom of Lord.U wil greatly missed
R.I.P sir. Your life will be celebrated
Fantastic actor, a Rare Gem has gone home to rest.
R.I.P Justus Esiri !
RIP Sir……one of my favorite nigerian actors…..any of these new ones who worked with him shud hav learnt somethinng, bc he indeed with other select few were the greats in nollywood n i miss him so much already. may God console his family n may he rest in the bossom of Christ JESUS.
vikkyscreed.blogspot.com
Wetin Dem Chop Dn Dey Bite them… Not Less than 10 Ppl from Entertainmnt Industry dn die This Year and One Of the Top Pastors in Nigeria said That We should Expect A Higher Rate Of Death This Year from The Industry…. Well, Na Them SABI WETIN dEM CHOP…
The Nigerian Universities’ News Journal
Really???? A family has lost their father and this is what you have to say????
Like seriously? You actually. Wrote this comment and posted it? Huhhh
I know! And the odd part is this person’s name is “Smart”…an irony if I ever saw one
A family just lost their father and a husband and this is truly what you have to say!!!!! Are u human at all or just an animal??
@ Smart
You are definitely crazy!!!
You are soooooo insensitive! May God forgive you!
You will surely be missed sir. May your soul RIP and may the Almighty give your family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss IJN. Dr. Sid, take heart, the Lord is with thee.
Rest in peace may God console the ones he left behind Amen!
May his soul RIP
Shopaholic.com
R.I.P sir! Dis is one of my favourite nollywood actor…wat a loss 4 nollywood.
RIP Sir,You will be grately missed.
May his soul R.I.P. By the way Monday was not 19th but Tuesday was.
RIP Sir. May God console ur family.
May your talented soul rest in peace, sir. Thank you for entertaining us. You were great at what you did.
Watch an episode of Village headmaster
youtube.com/watch?v=wvpzx1L4s88
R..I…P. Father,, one of my absolute nollywood favourites. Rest in the bossom of your maker sir. I pray his family finds comfort in knowing that he lived long and lived well. Take heart Sid.
this is shocking. such a great actor. he reminds me of one of my friend’s dad. i will surely miss him. rest in peace sir. my condolence to his family and Dr.Sid.
RIP Justus Esiri…..My Condolences to Dr SID
RIP. Sir. What a great Lost.
R I P. Sir
G̶̲̥̅Ơ̴̴̴̴͡.̮Ơ̴̴̴͡D̶̲̥̅ bye daddy will М̣̣̥̇̊ȋ̝̊̅̄Ƨ̷̜̩̌̋Ƨ̲̣̥ u
Rest rest in peace a mentor nd a father.
As a zmbian who appreciates Nigerian Movies i shall miss this man
he was a very talented actor ..loed all the roles he played …
MHSRIP
I met him last year August in London where he performed “The King Must Dance Naked” live on stage at the Olympics Village. His performance as usual was World-class. A big blow to our Acting Industry especially ‘stage acting’…there are a few of his kind of professionalism, gift and passion for acting. May you gentle soul rest in peace Sir!!!
RIP sir,we love you but God love you more
Rest rest peace A mentor nd A father.
RIP, my condolence to the family.
The fall of an Icon…………. Justus, rest in peace. DR. SID do accept my deepest sympathy.
he was one of my best actors. i really enjoyed his play on wasted years, may his soul rest in peace
RIP Sir,You will be greatly missed, may u Rest in the bossom of your maker. Amen
What is really happening? Pls Lord hv Mercy, R.I.P Good Actor
To think I came here in search of Darey’s love like a movie pictures…. So sad. RIP Mr Esiri I was a huge fan ! Pete and you really defined good acting in the Nigerian movie industry.
Omg…he was an exceptional actor.,I loved him. My heart goes out to his family.
Oh my dear Dr Sid..this is so sad
may his soul rest in peace,one of my favourite actors.@Smart nawa.
RIP sir!! you were trully loved.
OMG! One of my 4 best actor! We can’t take this sad news abt our celebrity anymore!
I so much cherish this man, he is a real actor, a disciplinarian, a noble personality, u are worth celebrating, a swt Dad,a paragon of virtue… He made acting so real I will really miss U sir, rest in d bossom of ur creator bcos he loves u most my condolence to his families. Crying…..
OMG, RIP
RIP Sir, my condolence to the entire family of Esiri
RIP Sir!
R.i.p dad, may dear GOD receive ur soul in heaven home .AMEN.goodbye legend
Oh my God! may his soul rest in peace sir.
were u ar now. is God home u have everlasting rests. de children u leave behind will be bless tro de had work u hav done for de grade nation Nigeria.
RIP Sir, my condolence to the entire family of Esiri
Hmmmmm…….our belove actor RIP….We miss you.
R I P , We love you but God love u Most
It’s shocking,he was my favourite nollywood actor n father in d field of acting . I wl miss ur role n character in movies bcos of ur uniqueness . Rest well in d Lord’s bossom dear pa Esiri .
If money can buy LIFE, the whole world would have exchange the DEATH that took u away from ur family and love ones. May ur gentil soul rest in peace.
R.I.P Papa, may those who are left behind, learn from you. adious
RIP
R.I.P.Sir
RIP my man.I just saw him some couple of months speaking on AIT.He does not look seek then.This life is so short before you know it you have disappear from the surface of the earth like a vapor.Also saw him when they visited President GEJ at the villa.
RIP SIR
This is unbelivable to believe dat papa esiri is gone.Rip
Dr Sid Justurs Esiri’s Son??!!…OMG..very sorry for this great loss!
RIP!May God accept ur soul,amen
RIP Sir. God help us all this year.
R.I.P Sir May the almighty Lord Accept your soul. Amen
Goodbye surely is a saddiest word,I hate d word and I’m nt gonna use it bcos I kn u stil liv wit us.May ur gentle and frigile Soul rest in perfect peace.Slepp tyt til we meet again.Ma hrt goes out 2 d family.
RIP Sir. Death alone is certain for all man. May God give his family the fortitude to bear the loss. Amin
RIP! Rest in the bossom of the Lord
Am getting serious chills as I write, right now. Our Village Headmaster who paved the way for so many actors of our generation… What a loss. May his soul rest in peace and may his legacy and mark he left behind may not be forgotten. He open doors for so many. what a legend, gem, star and pionnerring veteran actor of Nigerian. You will be sorely missed by many. Sun re oooo. Deepest condolences to the family and and close friends.
RIP Uncle!
RIP SIR MY CONDOLENCE to his family and friends
RIP Sir…
Rest in peace,bros
rip
Mr. justus esiri may ur soul perfectly rest in peace. Amen
Chai…. what happen to him? He is one of my best actor, RIP papa Esiri.
U fail 2 mention “THINGS FALL APART” acted alongside with Pet Edoche… I will miss u dearly. May God rest ur beautiful soul in peace.
@Smart, I saw your exact comment on Linda Ikeji’s blog and you have to be told how insensitive you are. Someone’s father/brother/uncle/grandpa/role model just died and all you have to say is ‘weitin dem chop’?are you serious?There’s a popular saying that it takes a witch to know a witch. You MUST be attending their meetings since you’re so certain there’s something they’re ‘chopping’. LEARN to be SENSITIVE people!!!This man was one of my favorite actors, not limited to nollywood alone . He reminds me so much of my late father, we greatly mourn him. O how sad!
RIP
may he s soul rest in pafect peace Amen
Rip Papa Esiri.
HE WILL BE MISSED…GREAT BRILLIANT ACTOR…am really sad, Sam Loco, Enebli , Ashely Nwosu, Peter Eneh…these great men are dead and so far am waiting for new actors to replace their theatrical brilliance. RIP….stay strong Dr. Sid no one wants to loose their parents o
T.B Joshua’s prophesies concerning Nollywood actors has started manifesting gradually. Fellow Nigerians, its high time we begin to do things the right way oo, so the wrath of God won’t befall us.
I see…a man has lived a well fulfilled and respecatble life and dies at the age mentioned by the Bible (“three score and ten”), the people are celebrating his life’s journey and YOU Jean Chris in your wisdom, you insinuate that the “wrath of God” has befallen him? And his death can be linked to TB Joshua’s prophecy? Entertainers are people. And people die. So when these entertainers die, please don’t attribute it to some generic proclamation from a pulpit. He died because it was his time, regardless of whether or not he’s an actor. #GetItRight
He was one of the finest. He would be greatly missed. RIP.
RIP BABA SID
RIP…loved him much
NEEDED FOR THOSE IN MUSIC AND DRAMA MINISTRY TO AVERT THE RAGE OF DEBT AND DEATH
RIP sir
I wonder if Smart wasn’t smart; wat would he have uttered. This isn’t funny. A family is grieving & this is all u cld say. It is well.
R.I.P Hon Man! We will miss u my dear. My sympathy to ur son “Dr-Sid”
my fav Nigerian acto, RIP sir, you have run your race!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P
What a west,what is happening in the industry. The grate men are going. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm RIP u will forever be remembered.
RIP Sir. Gaa na udo!
BN correction – 19th of February was Tuesday not Monday
We miss u sir
rest in peace its so painful to know u are no more but GOD has a reason
RIP Baba we’ll miss you so much, but God love you most
Justus, Pete Eduche, the likes of Kabesi, balogun in viellage headmaster, are best actors, any time any where, RIP Justus
R.i.p! We wil misd u badly.
really sad
may his soul rest in peace,i miss u sir but God love you more
This is still a shock to me that Justus Esiri is dead cos I met him for the first time one on one two weeks ago at the airport in abuja he was filled with life and there was this sparkel in his eyez,I met and asked to take pictures with him,he looked at me and said is that all you want from me? I laughed and told him I wouldn’t mind a hug too,he laughed back and wisperd to me that people are watching we both laughed and I took the pictures,little did I know that that will actually be the first and last time I would see you RIP sir till we meet where we shall part no more.
Like seriously? They are all leaving us, what the – is nOllywood doing about this? Our aged actors and musicians who endeared us to our tv sets have to be appreciated so they can actually be “legends”.. Hollywood has walk of fame, Hall of fame, what do we have? An industry that celebrates u when u r gone? TF? Ashley Nwosu, Pete Eneh, Enebeli Elebuwa and now Justice Esiri, r this people not worth honors in this industry? We create a lot of publicity stunt award events but can’t even honor this men with one award,(of course they won’t stand a chance against the young sexy actors) but then whatever happened to lifetime achievement award? Walk of fame? Hall of fame? They r old and r leaving one after the other, r we gonna keep celebrating them in their absence? R we waiting for when Pete Edochie and Olu Jacobs will join them? I hear u say God forbid well we better appreciate this ones NOW or NEVER.#NollywoodArise
I agree, that was the generation to which the art form meant more than money and fame.
@ David. nice comment. God will give us the insight to dat “award tin”
RIP sir rest in the bossom of the lord till we meet again 2 part no more. @smart may God have mercy on you for making such an horrible comment. How could you?
Mr.Esiri,just last week u were at d branch to effect a transfer and u were ur usual jovial self,exchanging plesantries with everyone.What a nasty shock we got this morning!RIP!
I wil miss ur personality in movies. RIP Sir!
Justice esiri u are a real man ur memory will not be forgetting. Your death to is a great lose is very painful to lose a great man like u. We really miss u any were u are today may your soul Rest In Peace anything that happen God have his own reason, miss u
So painful may your soul rest in perfect peace we all love u and may almighty God forgive u in any way u have wrong him
he will never be forgotten,the man who made me to love nigerian movies,anytime i get to the movie mall,i always search for his image first before making any movie choice.I really love justus acting.May he gentle soul rest in perfect peace.Mr esiri,u will always be remembered.
RIP SIR, even in all your movies, you represented the role of a good Man, we missed you so much rest the the arm of the Almighty.
I really enjoyed his work. My condolences to the Esiri family. RIP Mr Esiri, u will me missed and remembered.
RIP. Will continue to watch in Things fall apart at mediafrictv.com.
Good night Obierika!
Gone too soon!
rest in peace Mr. just us,your memories will remain in generations,
Mr. Justus Esiri, I really miss your unprecedented performances, your memory will continue to remain green in my heart. REST IN PEACE.
RIP
My God what is happening to Nollywood? All the legends are dying, is everything ok? oh Justus! a father and a mentor, u left so soon but God knows why it happened and may ur gently soul rest in peace. i will really miss u. untill we meet again, RIP
rip
Surely he has gone so soon. I have had a very good time to enjoy his entertaining film which could help young generation to get advice according to his educative acts. We shall really miss you a lot. It is another blow after one of my greatest actors Sam Loco Effe passed away in a miserable way. It really sounds unbelievable to have such great actors passing away. We thank God for the time he has lived and hope that his judgement before him will be fair And hope he will live in joy with God’s angles as we shall find him in the Heaven. May his soul rest in Eternal Peace
rip
IS SO CONFUSSING,GREAT GALARIES IN NIGERIAN MOVIES AN SINGERS MISSING FOR LIFE. HOW CAN WE PUT A STOP TO ALL THIS MESS. R.I.P GREAT FELLOWS OF TIME. I WISH ALL THE FAMILIES TO TAKE HEART,GOD IS IN CONTROL.PLS NIGERIANS,BEAR THE LOST THE FAMILY.DR SID,SORRY.
Why are people just dieing this 2013 like chickens whats happen to star y are they passing were just getting or haven’t gotten over GOLDIE now JULIUS ESIRI.Abeg small small.who will be next?.RIP.U WILL BE GREATLY MISSED
Good night Justus, we have enjoyed you company and we believe God is happy having you with him. May you rest with him in peace.
I met Uncle Justus at the 2012 Olympics Stratford Royal Theatre in London last year. I was instantly mesmerised by his gentle yet vivacious and good spirited and kind nature and I had the fortunate opportunity to spend time hanging out with him and producers of the “The Last Assasin”. That was one of the best summers ever in London, quite surreal. Uncle Justus you will forever be remembered for the light you brought to London and to my life. I never got to star in that movie you spoke to me about but glad that I had the opportunity to have a wonderful time with a man so humble, caring, always smiling and full of life. You are an inspiration to so many of us in the UK. Uncle Justus spoke so fondly of his family and my prayers go out to you all. RIP.
R I P Mr Justus.
when i first heard about it on fb, i broke down and cried. He was truly an amazing person. I loved his acting especially when he was nice in the them. R.I.P Justice
Still can’t believe Justus Esiri is gone. I believe he’s resting well in peace. One of his latest movie he starred in is Twin Sword: http://www.nigeriamovienetwork.com/nollywood-trailer-the-twin-sword-nigerian-movie-video_b251852d8.html
*Adieu*
r.i.p igwe, we will alwayz remember.
r.i.p igwe, we will alwayz remember you.
May his soul rest in peace.
RIP AD FOR THE FAMILY ACEPT MY CONDULENSE