I’m sure you must have missed one or two of these popular Nollywood actors who were once very popular in the Nigerian Movie Industry. These actors were some of the top Nollywood actors in Nigeria. We were always eager to view them on our screens when we were growing up. In this article, I’m going to refresh your memory by bringing to your attention, some of the popular Nollywood actors. You might have missed their performances on the screen, but unfortunately, they are no longer as relevant in the industry as they were used to in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Meet These 15 Popular Nollywood Actors Who Suddenly Left The Industry.

The Nollywood Film industry has evolved and altered over the years, but it has continually produced amazing actors who will live on in our minds for the rest of our lives. Over the years, the Nigerian film industry has grown significantly and undergone major reconfiguration from its prior status. Multi-talented artists used to grace our screens on a weekly basis, but they’ve since disappeared, much to the chagrin of their fans in Nigeria’s film industry.

Below are the names of some of the popular Nollywood actors who left the Nigeria Movie Industry.

Nkiru Sylvanus

The Imo State-born actress was a well-known Nollywood actress, recognized for her emotional performances and tearful eyes. To date, Nkiru Sylvanus is one of the most influential Nollywood actresses and one of the foundations that keep Nollywood strong. Before taking on the post of Special Assistant on Public Affairs for Rochas Okorocha, the former governor of Imo State, she appeared in more than 150 films in minor and starring roles.

Grace Amah

Grace Amah is a beautiful Nigerian actress and mother of one. She began her acting career in 1999 at the age of 13 when she played a 13-year-old girl for the first time In the movie “Chains”. Grace Amah became a household name when she starred in the Teco Benson Nollywood blockbuster, “Elastic Limit.”

Rita Nzelu

The Nigerian actress, model, and television host, Rita Nzelu, made her Nollywood debut in 1990 when she was featured in the movie, “Living in Bondage,” which gave her a household name in the Nigerian movie industry. Additionally, Rita Nzelu was also very popular in the movies Ortega and His Enemies (2014), Stigma of Womanhood (2016), and Terrible Sin (2001).

Ejike Asiegbu

The former President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejike Asiegbu, was a popular Nollywood actor and director. He joined the Nigerian movie industry in the year 1996 when he acted in his first movie, ‘Silent Night’. Ejike Asiegbu was previously appointed as personal assistant to former Biafran leader Odumegwu Ojukwu during the 1994 National Constitutional Conference in Abuja. 

Victoria Inyama

Victoria Inyama, a Nollywood heartthrob, was first discovered by Alex Usifo, who saw her ability and asked her to an audition. She started her acting career in 1998/1999 in the serial opera “Ripples.” Victoria is married to Ben Okri, a famous novelist. She then moved to the United Kingdom after being married, which caused her to take a break from performing. She just returned to acting after a two-year absence to star in “Talking Dolls,” a 2017 film hailed as one of Africa’s greatest dramas.

Charles Okafor

Charles Okafor, a well-known Nollywood actor, is regarded as one of the industry’s professional actors. He became popular in 1996 when he starred in his debut film, “Domitilla,” and he catapulted to prominence in 1999 when he starred in the blockbuster films "End of the Wicked’, “Ritual,” and “The Oracle.” He is now ordained as a preacher.

Lilian Bach

Beautiful Nollywood actress and former model Lilian Bach came into the limelight as a model in the 1990s when she competed in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant.  She was popular for her prominent roles in blockbuster movies like ’Married to a Witch’, ’Ogidan’, and more. Lilian was born in Lagos Island to a Yoruba mother and a Polish father.

Lilian, who recently turned 50, has also appeared in several television commercials and was once the face of Delta Soap. Her career in movies has faded since she took a break to pursue a career in production.

Hanks Anuku

Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku is most recognized for his portrayals of villains in a number of Nollywood films. Producers used to turn to him whenever they wanted a ‘bad boy’ for a film. After being dogged by personal scandals and accusations of an unconcerned attitude during filming, Hanks has progressively disappeared from the film industry scene. Anuku claims to have become a Ghanaian citizen in 2017.

Susan Patrick

Susan Patrick is a beautiful actress, best known for her spaced teeth. A native of Akwa Ibom state, Susan Patrick rose to fame after starring in the film Sakobi: The Snake Girl. At that time, she was one of the most sought-after Nigerian actors. While attending Lagos State University, she was accused of kidnapping another woman’s husband (LASU). Competition for most of the roles she appeared in finally led to her demise.

Patrick Uchenna Attah (Pat Attah)

He is popularly known as Pat Attah, but his real name is Patrick Uchenna Attah. He was a popular Nollywood actor, director, television personality, model, and singer. After graduating in 1993, he entered the Nigerian film industry and came to prominence in 1994 with a stellar performance in the film “Glamour Girls.” Pat became a Christian in 2015 and moved to Germany with his family to work as a gospel pastor.

Sandra Achums

During the 1990s, Sandra Achums was one of the most famous actresses in the Nollywood industry, and she is still popular today. In 1995, she made her acting debut in the Nigerian film industry in the film Deadly Affair. She was regarded as the bad girl of the Nollywood business because she mostly performed as a bad girl, a part she always translated effectively. Her acting talents were superb, so she was referred to as the bad girl of Nollywood. It was in the early 2000s, after she had married and begun having children, that Sandra Achums decided to take a sabbatical from acting and confront her family head-on. She and her family subsequently migrated to Germany.

Obinna Nwafor (Saint Obi)

Obinna Nwafor, often known as Saint Obi, is a Nigerian film and television actor, producer, and director. In the 1990s, as a brilliant performer and Nollywood’s bad boy, ’he was frequently referred to as Nollywood’s Mr. Quality due to his attention to detail whether producing or directing films. In 1995, he began attending movie auditions and appeared in a series of soap operas that aired on NTA before being contacted by Opa Williams to star in a film. He has been in Nollywood ever since. “Candle Light,” “Goodbye Tomorrow,” “Heart of Gold,” “Festival of Fire, Executive Crime,” “Last Party” and “Candle Light” all feature Saint Obi.

Shan George

Nollywood diva and movie producer Shan George was well-known in the ’90s. The beautiful singer, prior to debuting in the movie “Thorns of Rose”, had previously featured in a 1997 soap opera titled ‘Winds of Destiny’. She is best known for her roles in the movies ‘Outkast’ and ‘Welcome to Nollywood’.

Ndidi Obi

Ndidi Obi became popular after starring in the film "Nneka The Pretty Serpent,‘ Ndidi Obi was cast as the primary character, and she has since been referred to as "Nneka The Pretty Serpent’ due to her performance in the film. She was featured in the recent Ramsey Noah movie, “Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.”