On Tuesday, news of the passing of Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo at age 40 began circulating online. While the reports initially started as rumors, they have now seemingly been officially confirmed by colleagues close to the actor, who shared that the actor had been battling kidney cancer. According to the statement, following initial treatment, the cancer later returned.
Born on April 10, 1986, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and originally from Arochukwu in Abia State, Alexx Ekubo became one of the breakout stars of Nollywood in the 2010s, establishing himself not just as one of the most recognizable faces in Nigerian entertainment, but also one of its most bankable stars.
This loss is deeply felt across the entertainment industry and among fans who watched Ekubo become one of Nollywood’s defining leading men. He was especially loved for his roles in romantic comedies and drama films, bringing charm, humor, and charisma to the screen. Over the course of his career, he is believed to have starred in more than 100 film productions, making him one of the most commercially recognizable actors in Nigerian entertainment. 
Alexx Ekubo first rose to prominence as the first runner-up at the 2010 Mr Nigeria competition, a milestone that helped launch him into mainstream entertainment and modeling. He later became widely known after starring in the Nollywood hit Weekend Getaway, a film that significantly elevated his profile across Nigeria and the diaspora. The performance earned him the Golden Icons Academy Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2013, and the following year he received the BEFFTA Award in London for Nollywood Rising Star.
From there, he went on to star in several popular Nollywood titles including In The Cupboard, The Bling Lagosians, Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons, Sugar Rush, Omo Ghetto: The Saga, and The First Lady. Beyond film, he was also a familiar face on television, appearing in shows like Tinsel, AY’s Crib, and Married to the Game.
Ekubo would also go on to be honored with an Honorary Doctorate in Arts & Culture from ISCG University in Benin Republic, was named the Rotary Youth Ambassador of the Year 2023 and was honored by the Sapio Club for his contributions to African entertainment.
He remained active in the industry in recent years, appearing in the widely acclaimed Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story, which would unfortunately become one of his final major roles before stepping away from the public eye.
His loss is one that will be deeply felt by his family, friends, fans, colleagues, and the Nigerian film industry at large.
