His full names are Ashley Chijioke Nwosu. He was born on the 21st of November, 1954. He died in 2011. His most popular movies are Glamour Girls, Day of Reckoning and First Lady. It was the movie, Day of Reckoning that shot him into prominence.
In this post, you’ll discover some interesting things about the life and times of the late Ashley Nwosu.
Early life and Education
Ashley Nwosu was born to the family of Pa Francis Ibeabudi Nwosu and Mrs. Ezinne Victoria Nwosu in Umugu-Oboro in Ikwano Local Government Area of Abia State. He was the 4th child in a family of 7 children.
As a young boy, Nwosu was involved in millinery where he used to cut and dry materials.
The actor attended Umuigu Central Primary School in Umuahia-Oboro in Abia State.
After his primary education, he proceeded to Oboro Secondary School in Umuahia-Oboro in Abia State where he received his West African Senior School Certificate.
The actor bagged a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from University of Nigeria in Nsukka.
Marriage
Ashley Nwosu met his wife, Grace Iberie in 1984 when they boarded the same vehicle and he offered to pay her fare.
After that incident they lost contact but he found a way to locate her. It happened as a coincidence when her friend’s fiance brought him to her house.
Subsequently, they got to know each other better and he proposed to her. They got married in 1985. The union produced 5 children, 4 boys and a girl.
Movies
The actor featured in over 200 Nollywood movies during his lifetime. Some of these include:
- A Better Place
- Aristo
- Baby Guards
- Blind Love
- Day of Reckoning
- Distance Between
- Expensive Game
- First Lady
- Glamour Girls
- Hand of God
- Hidden Secrets
- Itohan
- Keeping Close
- Lagos Babes
- My American Nurse
- My HouseHelp
- Nigerian Girls
- Old Soldier
- Okoto the messenger
- Outkast
- Passion of Minds
- The Pastor’s daughter
- The rise and fall of a Prophet
- Prisoner of Love
- Power of Deceit
- Power of Love
- Power of Trust
- Stranger on my bed
- Stone Love
- Twist of Fate
- Young Masters
Career
The actor began his acting career in 1988 with the NTA network. At that time, he used to feature in soap opera and TV series.
Nwosu later joined Nollywood in the early 1990s. He featured in over 200 Nollywood movies prior to his death.
The movies that brought him to limelight were Glamour Girls and Day of Reckoning.
The actor produced his first movie, “Shield of Faith” in 2010. The movie premiered at the Silverbird Galleria in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria on 12th December 2010.
Awards
Some of his awards include:
- Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards,
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards,
- Most Prominent Actor in Nigeria at the Golden Icon Movie Academy Awards and
- Best Actor of the Year at the Best of Nollywood Awards.
Grace Nwosu
She revealed that one of the qualities she loved most about her husband was his caring attitude.
Nwosu had a lot of things to say about her late husband. According to her, he practically ran the home and ensured everywhere was neat and in order.
Grace also revealed that he had insinuated that he was dying prior to his eventual death but she had rebuked him.
They were married for 25 years before his demise.
Nneoma Nwosu
Nneoma is the daughter of Ashley Nwosu. She married Hypolite Zabbey in 2011. They had TheIr traditional marriage on the 29th of October, 2011 at her father’s compound in Umuahia, Abia State.
The white wedding took place at Reading, Berkshire in United Kingdom in 2012.
Hobbies
Nwosu revealed in an interview that he has big passion for music. He disclosed that he grew up listening to the likes of Barry White, Kool and the gang, Kenny Rogers, Don Williams, Victor Uwaifo, Nduka Osadebe, Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey and Sonny Okosun.
According to the actor, he used to compose songs during his youthful days but he lost over 200 of these songs during the Civil War.
The actor disclosed in the interview that he intends to join his local choir and he also wants to record some songs soon. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do this before he passed away.
Death
The actor died at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba in Lagos on the 21st of April 2011 after battling with a liver disease for several weeks.
There were rumours that his excessive drinking and smoking may have caused his liver disease.
Although his wife claimed that he died because they couldn’t afford the required medical treatment.
According to his wife, the illness started when he complained of indigestion as he kept on passing out the food he ate undigested. They went to the hospital and after a series of tests, it was discovered that his liver was badly damaged.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t responding to treatment and he eventually went into a coma which he never recovered from.
Burial
A candle light procession and service of songs was held in his honour at the Ojez Restaurant and Bar, National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos a few weeks after his death. The event was organized by his friends and colleagues in Nollywood.
Some of the celebrities in attendance were Segun Arinze, Patience Ozokwor, Genevieve Nnaji, Uche Jombo, Ernest Asuzu, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Arinze Okonkwo amongst other.
The family of the late actor received support from the Abia State Government, the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria and the popular billionaire, Ifeanyi Uba.
Many of the celebrities collaborated and contributed millions of naira to the family. Also, Ifeanyi Ubah gave the family of the late actor a cheque of N1 million which was presented by the popular actor, Segun Arinze.
The final burial took place at Umuahia in Abia State on the 10th and 11th of June, 2011
If you have to write a Biography about someone, get your facts straight and don’t just publish or write false information just to get cheap publicity.
First and foremost, Ashley never smoked.
Secondly, he has no male son so check your informant or where you plied the false information from.
I do not have the time to break down your irrelevant Biography but next time you intend to venture on such project, make sure your information is true and not misleading.
Thanks