Nollywood has recorded another loss as actor Gbenga Richards has reportedly passed away on Thursday morning after long fight with an unknown sickness.
Gbenga Richards was seen in a video last begging for assistance from members of the public, after having suffered from an unknown illness for a while now.
Richards made his acting debut in 1977, when he and Hubert Ogunde represented Nigeria at the Second World Black and African Festival of African Culture (FESTAC) an he also appeared in films such as ‘Sango,’ ‘Mirror in the Sun,’ ‘Betrayal by Love,’ ‘Fighting Machine,’ and many others.
The once very vibrant actor who was a force to be reckoned with in the 1990s and early 2000s of Nollywood, suffered from a number of ailments, and getting funds for his treatment proved difficult due to his financial difficulties.
In 2021, some of his colleagues and friends raised money to help pay for his treatment.
Adewale, former Head of Programmes at Galaxy TV Lagos wrote: “Good night Gbenga Richards. Another Nollywood Icon is gone. A gem is lost. My friend and brother is gone to be with his creator. May the lord rest your soul in Jesus’ name.”
It will be recalled that late last year, Moviedom called attention to the plight of the actor after blogger and director at African Entertainment Network Emdee David shared a post on his social media handles where he revealed that the actor was seriously ill and needed help urgently. Aged 60, the actor and star of critically acclaimed movies such as Sango, Mirror in the Sun, Fighting Machine, and 30 Days, who looked twice his size in a video that Emdee David also shared in September 2021 said back then: “My name is Gbenga Richards, I’m sure a lot of you out there know me. My friends and fans and colleagues have encouraged me to do this, so I’ve decided to make my cry public. I’m really undergoing a very serious health issue.
I have acute high blood pressure and suffering from acute diabetes. I live on medication right now. That I’m alive speaking to you this wonderful day is by the grace of God. So, I’m calling on well-loving Nigerians please come to my aid. Don’t allow me to die.”
