Deyemi Okanlawon (; born 19 April 1981) is a Nigerian actor. He was the highest-grossing Nollywood actor of 2020 and 2021, according to the Film One Box Office report. Okanlawon is best known for his roles in Netflix Originals, including King of Boys: The Return of the King (2021), Blood Sisters (2022), Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman (2022), and Lisabi: The Uprising (2024), as well as commercially successful films like Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020), Prophetess (2021), and All's Fair in Love (2024).
Early life
Born in Lagos, Okanlawon is the son of Adeyemi Okanlawon, an aircraft engineer, and Adeyinka Okanlawon, a baker and entrepreneur. He began his education at Taikenny Nursery and Primary School and later attended the International School, Lagos. He also obtained a degree in Chemical engineering from the University of Lagos. Additionally, he earned a Certificate in Acting for Film from the Delyork Creative Academy.
Career
Okanlawon began acting at the age of five in a school play. By the age of nine, he appeared in a nationally aired television commercial alongside Kunle Bamtefa and Sola Sobowale. While studying at the University of Lagos, he became an active participant in drama groups. After graduation, he worked as a sales and marketing executive in industries like FMCG.
In 2011, he made his feature film debut in ZR-7: The Red House Seven and also starred in the short film A Grain of Wheat. He featured in short films and web series, such as Gidi Up,Gidi cast on The Juice, Ndanitv, Retrieved 6 October 2016. Blink, and Knock Knock. By 2012, he had gained recognition as an actor in Nigeria.
In 2013, Okanlawon made the decision to focus on acting full-time. Since then, he has appeared in over 50 films, TV series, theatre productions, music videos, and commercials. His work has earned him nominations and awards from the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA), Ghana Movie Awards (GMA), BON, In-Short, and City People awards.
In 2015, Okanlawon founded Covenant Entertainment Services, a full-service production advisory, marketing consulting, and talent management firm. The company later served as a consultant for Silverbird Film Distribution. In 2019, Okanlawon took up the role of marketing manager at Silverbird and then the head of Nollywood and independent movie distribution. In 2020, during the pandemic, he briefly stepped in as acting CEO before returning to acting full-time in 2021.
In 2017, Okanlawon starred in the romantic comedy-drama Scars, directed by Tope Alake, alongside Lilian Esoro and Chelsea Eze, marking his entry into the romantic comedy genre.
In 2020, he played a supporting role in Omo Ghetto: The Saga, which became Nigeria's top-grossing film, earning over ₦187 million, according to the Nigerian Box Office yearbook.
In 2022, Okanlawon appeared in Blood Sisters, Nigeria's first Netflix Original Series, which premiered on 5 May 2022. He also starred in Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman, the first Yoruba-language film to be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. That same year, he received his first Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) nomination for Best Actor in a comedy for his role in Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
In 2024, after a decade in the industry, Okanlawon applied his sales and marketing expertise and his on-screen experience to produce his debut film, All’s Fair in Love. The romantic comedy, starring Timini Egbuson and Buhle Samuels, was commercially successful, grossing over ₦130 million at the West African box office. The film was also licensed to Prime Video, where it became the second most-watched Nollywood title of 2024.
Okanlawon's second film Three Working Days premiered in Nigerian cinemas on 18 October 2024. Directed by Ikechukwu Jerry Ossai and produced by Bleeding Art Production in collaboration with FilmOne Studios, the film is a heist thriller that follows a father's quest to secure a stable future for his family amid an economic crisis. The cast includes Nancy Isime, Femi Adebayo, Uzor Arukwe and Mike Ezuruonye.
Personal life
Okanlawon got married in January 2013. On 10 July 2016, Okanlawon and his wife Damilola welcomed their first child.
Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes 2010 Grain of Wheat Saviour Daniel and Ruyi Lead Role/Short Film 2011 Dependence Dayo Brian Wilson Lead/Short Film ZR-7: The Red House Seven Alabi Udoka Oyeka and Olufemi D. Ogunsanwo Principal (Feature Film) 2012 6:30PM Ghost Tonye Faloughi Short Film/Supporting Role Journey to Self Ex lover Tope Oshin-Ogun Feature Film alongside Ashionye Raccah, Katherine Obiang, Dakore Akande, Tina Mba and more Blink Husband Tolu Ajayi Lead Role/Short Film Gidi Up Season 1 Tokunbo Jáde Osiberu Lead/Series 2013 Kpians: The Feast of Souls Eric Stanlee Ohikhuare Sub-Lead/Feature Film alongside Kiki Omeili and Ashionye Ugboh-Raccah Kpians Premonition Eric Stanlee Ohikhuare Sub-Lead/Web Gidi Up II Tokunbo Jáde Osiberu Lead/Series Oblivious Charles Stanlee Ohikhuare Feature Film 2014 Dowry I Demola Victor Sanchez Lead Role/Series Lekki Wives III Hassan Blessing Egbe Supporting Role/Series A Place Called Happy Dele LowlaDee Feature Film Perfect Imperfection Kanmi Ehizojie Ojesebholo Lead Role/Feature Film Friends and Lovers Frank Yemi Morafa Feature Film A Few Good Men Wale Ejiro Onobrakpor Feature Film featuring Joseph Benjamin Vanity's Last Game Justin Ehizojie Ojesebholo Feature Film 2015 Dowry II Demola Victor Sanchez Feature Film featuring Iretiola Doyle If Tomorrow Never Comes Kay Pascal Amanfo Feature Film featuring Yvonne Nelson Road to Yesterday Michael Ishaya Bako Feature Film featuring Majid Michel and Genevieve Nnaji All of Me Chris Okey Ifeanyi Feature Film Undercover Lover Mr Roberts Okey Ifeanyi Feature Film 2016 Desperate Housegirls 2 & 3 Femi Sukanmi Adebayo and Akin-Tijani Supporting Role/Series Tobi Ha.foo.sa Niyi Akinmolayan Animated Series It's About Your Husband Kay Bunmi Ajakaiye Feature Film Madam Caitlyn Dr Sam - Feature film Asawana Sere Diminas Dagogo Feature Film Dinner Richard 'Richie' Boyo Jay Franklin Jituboh Feature Film featuring Iretiola Doyle and Richard Mofe Damijo 2017 The Royal Hibiscus Hotel Martin Ishaya Bako2018The Devil in BetweenFrankPascal AmanfoDrama 2019 Pandora's Box Tope AlakeTwo Weeks in LagosJoshuaKathryn Fasegha2020Rise of the SaintsWaleSamuel O. OlateruOmo Ghetto: The SagaFemi StoneJJC SkillzProduced by Funke Akindele2021King of Boys: The Return of the KingAdetola FashinaKemi AdetibaNetflix original limited seriesSwallowSanwoKunle AfolayanCastle & CastleKwabena MillsProphetessFogo BombasticNiyi Akinmolayan 2022Blood SistersKolaBiyi BandeleNetflix original limited seriesElesin Oba: The King's HorsemanOlundeBiyi BandeleNetflix and Ebonylife TV co-productionObara'MFidelisKayode Kasum2023Domino EffectKolaFreddie George 2024Dead SeriousDeremiMoses InwangComedy Crossroads Oyekan Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo TiminiTiminiChibuike IbeAction 2025Radio VoiceProduced by Richard Mofe-Damijo Queen of Mars Luke Maddison Takegoro Nishimura and Takeshi Kawakami MiniseriesThe HerdDaniel Etim-Effiong
Awards YearEventPrizeRecipient ResultRef2013In-Short Film FestivalBest Actor in a Short Film - Supporting Role in an English language film (Married but Living Single)Deyemi Okanlawon (Blink)Best Short FilmBlinkAfrica Magic Viewer's Choice Awards (AMVCA)Best New Media Online VideoKpians PremonitionAFRINOLLY Best Animation In Iredu2015Best of Nollywood (BON) AwardsRevelation of the YearDeyemi Okanlawon (If Tomorrow Never Comes)GMA AwardsBest Actor, African CollaborationDeyemi Okanlawon (If Tomorrow Never Comes)2016GMA AwardsBest Actor, African CollaborationDeyemi Okanlawon (No Man's Land)Best Actor in a Drama SeriesDeyemi Okanlawon (An African City)2019Best of Nollywood AwardsBest Supporting Actor –EnglishDeyemi Okanlawon (Levi)2022Africa Magic Viewers' Choice AwardsBest Actor in A ComedyDeyemi Okanlawon (Omo Ghetto: The Saga )
References