Joseph Benjamin (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.
Joseph Benjamin | |
|---|---|
.png) Joseph Benjamin in 2008 | |
| Born | 9 November 1977 |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, model, TV presenter, voice-over artist, singer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | Co-hosting MTN's Project Fame |
| Notable work | Tango with Me |
| Children | 5 |
| Awards | 2012 Best of Nollywood Awards for Best Lead Actor |
Personal life
editJoseph 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
editEarly career
editJoseph 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
editJoseph 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
editHaving 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
edit| 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
editFilms
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ Adebayo, Tireni (2013-12-29). "Happy Dad, happy kids! Meet Joseph Benjamin's adorable kids". Kemi Filani News. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
- ^ "Joseph Benjamin: Flip side of a talented actor". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Joseph Benjamin". M.afrinolly.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ "Joseph Benjamin Wins African Actor of the Year at 17th Afro-Hollywood Awards". 4 November 2012.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Joseph Benjamin resurfaces in America as singer". Vanguard News. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "NOLLYWOOD: Joseph Benjamin Biography (Nigerian Actor)". InformAfrica.com. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Desperate Housewives Africa: Michelle Dede, Kehinde Bankole, Dolapo Oni, Linda Osifo; Meet The Cast". Olori Supergal. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Upclose: Actor Joseph Benjamin is on a Mission! Gives Reason Behind "JOY" & Reveals Title of Upcoming EP". 8 December 2016.
- ^ "Joseph Benjamin resurfaces in America as singer".
- ^ "Golden Movie Awards: Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations". 1Push Naija. Ogbodo. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ "Golden Movie Awards: Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations". Sturvs Nigeria. Sturvs. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ "Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations". Pulse Nigeria. Gbenga Bada. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ "BON Awards 2017: Kannywood's Ali Nuhu receives Special Recognition Award". Daily Trust. 2017-11-23. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- ^ "Joseph Benjamin Nollywood actor stars in 1st Yoruba movie 'Omoge Ofege'". Pulse Nigeria. Chidumga Izuzu. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.