Joseph Benjamin (actor)

Joseph Benjamin
Joseph Benjamin in 2008
Born (1977-11-09) 9 November 1977 (age 47)
Occupation(s)Actor, model, TV presenter, voice-over artist, singer
Years active1995–present
Known forCo-hosting MTN's Project Fame
Notable workTango with Me
Children5
Awards2012 Best of Nollywood Awards for Best Lead Actor

Joseph Benjamin listen (born 9 November 1977) is a Nigerian actor, model, singer, Voice-over Artist and television presenter[1] mainly known for co-hosting MTN's Project Fame,[2] a talent reality show, and starring in the movies Tango With Me, Mr. and Mrs., and Murder at Prime Suites.[3][4] He won the African Actor of the Year award at the 2012 African Film Awards.[5] For his role in Married but Living Single, he won the best lead actor at the 2012 Best of Nollywood Awards.

Personal life

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Joseph was born on 9 November 1977, to a Kogi State indigene father and an Anambra State mother. Joseph Benjamin completed his primary school education in Benue State in the north-central part of Nigeria. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate, after which he completed his secondary school education in Lagos State in the south-western part of Nigeria and obtained his West African Senior School Certificate.[6] Joseph relocated to the United States in 2016, where he currently resides.[7] He identifies as a born-again Christian.[8][9]

Career

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Early career

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Joseph made his movie debut in Crossroads, in 1995 (alongside Ramsey Nouah and Sandra Achums); however, his screen debut was earlier, when he appeared at age 12 in the television program Tales by Moonlight on NTA.[10]

Nolly breakthrough and TV personality

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Joseph has starred in several television series, including Edge of Paradise, in which he was being "crushed on" by his neighbor's daughter, and Super Story. His definite breakthrough in film came in the early 2010s, with roles in romantic-themed films such as Kiss and Tell, Tango With Me, which was nominated for five Africa Movie Awards, and Married but Living Single. He broke typecasting in 2013 by playing a detective in the 2013 crime thriller Murder at Prime Suites (MAPS), which was inspired by an actual criminal case in Lagos, Nigeria, in which a woman was murdered by someone she met on Facebook.[4][11][12] Shortly after completing MAPS, Joseph joined the cast of Desperate Housewives Africa, the Nigerian remake of the American hit series, playing the role of Chuka Obi, housewife Kiki Obi's wealthy and domineering husband, opposite Kehinde Bankole.[13] He co-hosted, with Adaora Oleh, MTN Project Fame West Africa between 2009 and 2016, and has appeared in TV and radio commercials.

Singer

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Having sung in a choir since his early twenties, Joseph launched a career in professional singing in 2012, collaborating with singer Sabina on the album Merry Christmas that year.[14] A devout Christian, he has since specialized in the gospel and inspirational genre with the singles Joy in 2016[15] and I Pour My Love in 2020. He has stated that he considers himself a musician first and foremost.[16] He recently dropped single, and he is working on releasing an EP in 2022.[9]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award ceremony Category Film Result Ref
2015 Golden Movie Awards Golden Actor Nominated [17][18][19]
2017 Best of Nollywood Awards Best Actor in a Lead role - English Dance to my Beat Nominated [20]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Cross Roads
2003 Deadly Misson Dotun
2009 Jungle Ride Akin
2009 Spellbound
2010 Kiss and Tell Iyke with Monalisa Chinda, Desmond Elliot & Nse Ikpe Etim
2010 Kidnap
2010 Tango with Me Uzo
2011 Mr. and Mrs. Ken Abbah with Nse Ikpe Etim & Barbara Soky
2011 Courier
2012 Married but Living Single Mike with Funke Akindele & Joke Silva
2012 Stripped Coco Simba With Ramsey Nouah, Beverly Naya,
2012 Torn With Julius Agwu, Monalisa Chinda
2012 Unfair
2012 Darkside
2012 Faith
2012 Contract Kuuku With Doris Ansah, Jasmine Baroudi, Katouchka Addaquay
2013 Murder at Prime Suites Agent Ted
2013 First Cut Kunle Lewis alongside Lisa Omorodion and Monalisa Chinda
2014 Mum, Dad, meet Sam Josiah Abiola With Daniella Down, Tino Orsini
2014 Few good Men Fred With Boma Adukeh, Otas Bazuaye
2014 Blind Promise
2014 Secret Box
2014 Iyore Prince Eweka - Azuwa
2014 Folly
2014 A Few Good Men Wale Feature Film directed by Ejiro Onobrakpor and featuring Deyemi Okanlawon
2015 The Grave Dust Jordan with Ramsey Nouah & Joke Silva
2015 Omoge Ofege[21] with Femi Adebayo & Ireti Osayemi
2016 Rebecca Clifford
2017 Isoken Osaze
2017 Affairs of the Heart Eric
2020 Special Jollof with Uche Jumbo
2020 The Love Between Us Desmond with Raz Ayer, Ikenna Alily, Carl Allen Jr.
2021 Back to Kinship with Stanley Enow
2022 Stay Tega with Theo Bray
2023 The Bargain Steve with Greg Agalaba, Sira Bah

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Deadly Mission
2005 Just Me Kayode
2005 Travails of Faith Sam
2005-2006 Edge of Paradise Michael 1 episode
2005-2006 Young, Single and free
2007 Super story
2007 Bachelors
2007 168 A love Story
2008-2013 Tinsel Tega 212 episodes
2015 Desperate Housewives Africa Chuka Obi 20 episodes
2015-2016 Losing Control Kunle 39 episodes
2017 Claws Relative 1 episode
2019 Greenleaf Joseph Obi 2 episodes
2019 Last Call Charles O Marley 1 episode
2022 Atlanta (TV series) Black Male Actor Work Ethic!

References

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  1. ^ Adebayo, Tireni (2013-12-29). "Happy Dad, happy kids! Meet Joseph Benjamin's adorable kids". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  2. ^ "Joseph Benjamin: Flip side of a talented actor". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  3. ^ "BN Saturday Celebrity Interview: From TV to the Big Screen, Meet Nigeria's New Heartthrob Joseph Benjamin". Bella Naija. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Joseph Benjamin". M.afrinolly.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Joseph Benjamin Wins African Actor of the Year at 17th Afro-Hollywood Awards". 4 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Nollywood actor Joseph Benjamin opens up on separation from wife – Nigeria Today". Zimbio. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Joseph Benjamin resurfaces in America as singer". Vanguard News. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Upclose: Actor Joseph Benjamin Is On A Mission! Gives Reason Behind "JOY" & Reveals Title Of Upcoming EP". SelahAfrik. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Joseph Benjamin: Flip side of a talented actor". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  10. ^ "NOLLYWOOD: Joseph Benjamin Biography (Nigerian Actor)". InformAfrica.com. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  11. ^ "BN Saturday Celebrity Interview: From TV to the Big Screen, Meet Nigeria's New Heartthrob Joseph Benjamin". Bella Naija. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  12. ^ Adeyemo, Adeola (21 January 2012). "BN Saturday Celebrity Interview: From TV to the Big Screen, Meet Nigeria's New Heartthrob Joseph Benjamin". Bella Naija. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  13. ^ "Desperate Housewives Africa: Michelle Dede, Kehinde Bankole, Dolapo Oni, Linda Osifo; Meet The Cast". Olori Supergal. 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  14. ^ Gists, Naija (2013-03-20). "Nigerian Actor Joseph Benjamin Turns Singer, First Album At Studio Level - NaijaGists.com - Proudly Nigerian DIY Motivation & Information Blog". NaijaGists.com. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  15. ^ "Upclose: Actor Joseph Benjamin is on a Mission! Gives Reason Behind "JOY" & Reveals Title of Upcoming EP". 8 December 2016.
  16. ^ "Joseph Benjamin resurfaces in America as singer".
  17. ^ "Golden Movie Awards: Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations". 1Push Naija. Ogbodo. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Golden Movie Awards: Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations". Sturvs Nigeria. Sturvs. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  19. ^ "Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations". Pulse Nigeria. Gbenga Bada. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  20. ^ "BON Awards 2017: Kannywood's Ali Nuhu receives Special Recognition Award". Daily Trust. 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  21. ^ "Joseph Benjamin Nollywood actor stars in 1st Yoruba movie 'Omoge Ofege'". Pulse Nigeria. Chidumga Izuzu. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
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