Nollywood actor, Gbenga Richards, has passed away after battling several ailment for several years.
According to reports monitored by TCN, the once vibrant actor, who was a regular face in the 1990s and early 2000s, suffered from a number of ailments, including diabetes, but raising money for his treatment became difficult because he had fallen on hard times.
He passed on on Wednesday at 61.
Femi Adewale, a popular media personality and TV director broke the sad news of the actor’s passing on his Facebook page.
“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 d Lord rest ur soul in Jesus name,” he wrote.
Richards was reportedly suffering from diabetes and other related ailments. Unconfirmed reports said he also battled with chronic alcoholism especially after parting ways with his film industry wife, Florence, in 2019.
Some of his colleagues and friends in 2021 solicited funds to cater for his welfare. Comic actor, Ime Bishop Umoh, also known as Okon, and Emmanuel Ehumadu, popularly known as Labista, took to social media to seek financial assistance for him.
Richards’ first appearance as an actor was to represent Nigeria with Hubert Ogunde at the Second World Black and African Festival of African Culture (FESTAC) in 1977.
He also featured in blockbuster movies like ‘Sango’, ‘Mirror in the Sun’, ‘Betrayal by Love’, ‘Fighting Machine’ ’30 Days’and a host of others.
