Veteran Nollywood Actor Dies

The Yoruba film industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actor and pastor, Taiwo Adeshina, also known as Elegbeje Ado.

NEWSNGR understands that he died on Monday at the age of 66 after a brief illness.

His death was later confirmed by filmmaker Seun Oloketuyi, leading to an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues across the entertainment space.

Adeshina was a well-known figure in the Yoruba movie scene for more than 20 years.

The thespian built a strong reputation through steady appearances in indigenous films, where he often played kings, chiefs, elders, and other traditional roles.

His ability to speak Yoruba fluently and act in culturally rich stories made him a familiar face in many homes that followed epic and classic Yoruba movies.

The stage name Elegbeje Ado came from one of his early and popular movie roles.

Over time, the character name became more recognised than his real name, as fans and colleagues began to identify him with it.

His performances helped shape his place in Yoruba cinema, especially in productions that focused on tradition and history.

In the later part of his career, he moved more into Christian ministry and gospel filmmaking around 2025.

He continued to combine acting with preaching and later worked on faith-based productions, including a gospel project titled Egberun Odun.

Taiwo also spoke in past interviews about challenges in the industry, including pressure to join secret groups, but said he refused and remained committed to his Christian faith.