Richard Mofe Damijo

Richard Mofe Damijo, popularly known as RMD, is a former journalist/publisher, and now Nollywood actor. Having starred in numerous movies he is one of Nigeria's highest earning actors and is often referred to as Nigeria's Denzel Washington. He was once married to the late Nigerian journalist May Ellen Ezekiel. [Two Decades of Screen Romance, [http://nigeriamovies.net/news/news132.php Nigeria Movies] , Retrieved on April 24, [2008] ]

Childhood

Mofe-Damijo was born Richard Evans Eyimofe Mofe-Damijo on July 6, 1961 in Delta State, Mid-Western Nigeria. He is from a family of 18 children.Richard Mofe-Damijo: An Actor’s Actor, [http://www.nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=570&z=23 Online Nigeria] , Retrieved March 26, 2006] While he has many siblings through his father’s polygamous relationships, he is the only child of his mother and is thus strongly bonded to her. Living with his mother, he learned to perform what is regarded in Africa as women’s chores, including cooking. [ [http://www.naijacommunity.com/entertainment-articles.php?AID=44 Naija Community] , Retrieved March 26, 2006]

Education

Mofe-Damijo's talent started revealing itself when he was a young boy playing in his Warri neighborhood. In primary school, he took the roles of Jesus or Peter in biblical dramas. During his secondary school years at Midwest College, Warri and Anglican Grammar School, near Sapele, he was a member of the Drama Club where he played both male "and" female roles. He was also involved in the martial arts, while he studied for his A-levels. This made it a natural transition for him to proceed to the Cook Theatre Arts Department of the University of Benin. From his first year, he played lead roles, which provided clear evidence of his talent and charisma. In 1982, while still in University, he played the lead character Emeka in "Echoes of Wrath", his first exposure to television. This made-for-TV film went on to win the Nigerian Television Authority National Annual Drama Competition, and was syndicated to all NTA stations nationwide, thus making him a drama celebrity. As a student, he had acted in several stage productions and is still an avid supporter of the stage. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre in 1983, having specialized in dramatic theory and criticism. Sixteen years later, he would study Law at the University of Lagos, graduating in 2004. RMD- True Screen Legend, [http://www.naijacommunity.com/entertainment-articles.php?AID=44 Naija Community] , Retrieved March 26, 2006] >

Early career

RMD's first jobs included holiday jobs and working as a clerk. As a clerk, he was paid N200 (200 Naira). Now, he runs a Public relations company called "Whitewater LTD" as part of his production company, RMD Promotions. After graduating from university, he took part in a television soap opera in the late 80's called "Ripples". Before then, he had a stint with "Concord Newspapers" and "Metro Magazine" as a reporter. This proved valuable later on. During his first marriage to late May Ellen Ezekiel, a foremost Nigerian journalist popularly known as MEE, he worked briefly with her when she founded "Classique magazine". Later, he quit Classique to publish "Mister Magazine", now defunct. After MEE's death in 1996, he married Jumobi, a former [African Independent Television] presenter in 1999. Presently, he has five children. While many looked forward to seeing him in his scintillating performance on the weekly soap which ran for several years, his best was yet to come. The name of the first productions he joined after graduating was called Ajo productions. The audition was a walk over and he got the lead role. RMD, unusually a lover of his critics, relishes in the satisfaction of being paid to do what he loves most. Thus, for him, life is to a large extent a continuous game. RMD also acted in "Spacs" and "Checkmate". His role models and idols in those days were Denzel Washington, Al Pacino and Jimi Solanke.

Interests

Mofe-Damijo's hobbies are poetry, traveling, and writing.Richard Mofe Damijo, [http://www.ngex.com/entertainment/pages/rmd.htm Nigeria Exchange Entertainment] , Retrieved March 26, 2006] He also likes playing Squash. In addition, he loves Nigerian music, claims he is old school and thus enjoys listening to Chris Okotie, R. Kelly, Prince and Elton John. His greatest passion, however, is acting on stage. RMD says that it is challenging, spontaneous, and involves direct audience participation.

Between 1995-2004, RMD had acted in 30 films like "Violated 1 & 2", "Out of Bounds", "The Price" etc. He starred in 100 plays on stage and has performed also on the London stage in a Nigerian adaptation of Macbeth and also in the famous in Italy. "Out of Bounds" was the first film for which he received a writer/producer credit. Furthermore, the film has won many awards in Nigeria, including best actress and best soundtrackRichard Mofe-Damijo. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from [http://www.africanfilmny.org/archive/other/ao014.html African Film] , Retrieved March 26, 2006]

Filmography

The films Richard Mofe Damijo has acted in includeRichard Mofe-Damijo. (2006). Internet Movie Database Inc. [http://poll.imdb.com/name/nm1816193/] , Retrieved March 26, 2006]
*"Ayomida" (2003)
*"Ayomida 2" (2003)
*"Behind Closed Doors" (2005)
*"Behind Closed Doors 2" (2005
*"Bridge-Stone" (2005)
*"Bridge-Stone 2" (2005)
*"Critical Assignment" (2004)
*"Critical Decision" (2004
*"Critical Decision 2" (2004
*"Emotional Pain" (2003)
*"Engagement Night" (2004)
*"Engagement Night 2" (2004)
*"I will Die for you" (2003)
*"Indecent Act" (2004)
*"Indecent Girl 2(2004)
*"Indecent Girl(2004)
*"Keeping Faith: Is that Love?" (2003)
*"Kings Pride" (2004)
*"Little Angel" (2004)
*"Love" (2003)
*"Out of Bounds" (1997)
*"Private Sin" (2003)
*"Private Sin 2" (2003)
*"Soul Provider" (2003)
*"The Bridesmaid" (2005
*"The Intruder" (2003)
*"The Intruder 2" (2003)
*"True Romance" (2004/I
*"True Romance 2" (2004)The names of some other videos are "Flesh and Blood", "Violated", "Shame", "Haunted", "Scores to Settle", "Amadas", "Suicide Mission", "Mean Girls", "Diamond Ring", "Vigilante", "The Return".Richard Mofe Damijo. (1999). Nigeria Exchange Entertainment. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from http://www.ngex.com/entertainment/pages/rmd.htm] Also, there are other films such as "Keeping Faith", "When God says Yes" and "Intimate Strangers".List of Richard Mofe Damijo movies, [http://www.allafricanmovies.com/person_movies.php?actor=Richard%20Mofe%20Damijo All African Movies] , Retrieved March 26, 2006]

Awards Received

Awards	Awarded By	Date
Actor of Decade	Awo varsity Lit & English Studies Society	1998
Distinguished Service Award for Performance in Dramatic Arts	Gold Image Awards Delta State	1998
Award of Excellence	Media Link'98	1998
Best English Actor	Fame movie Awards	1998
Best Actor of the year	Fame Movie Awards	1998
Masters Award	Masters Award	1998
Outstanding Young Persons Award	Unilag Junior Chambers	1998
Outstanding Young Persons Award	Nigerian Junior Chambers	1998
Best Actor (Gospel Movies)	Christian Awards Committee	1999

Richard Mofe Damijo. (1999). Nigeria Exchange Entertainment. Retrieved March 26, 2006 from http://www.ngex.com/entertainment/pages/rmd.htm] Best actor in the Movie ‘Critical Decision’ and best actor overall for the year 2005AMMA Awards 2005- Nigeria Movies, [http://www.naijarules.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8213 Naija Rules!] , Retrieved March 26, 2006]

Conclusion

RMD was cast in "Critical Assignment", an international film with South African superstar Michael Power, demonstrating the calibre of his acting abilities. Furthermore, the film he produced won the award for ‘the best soundtrack of the year’.To most people RMD is simultaneously a talented actor, an achiever, a role model, and moreover the embodiment of the Nigerian dream.Richard Mofe-Damijo: Nigeria’s highest paid actor [http://www.nigerianartes.com/nollywoodinterview/RICHARD%20MOFE%20Damijo.pdf Nigerian Artes] , Retrieved March 26, 2006]

References

External links

* [http://www.rmdpromotions.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.allafricanmovies.com/person_movie.php?actor=Richard%20Mofe%20Damijo List of Richard Mofe Damijo movies]
* [http://www.rmdpromotions.com RMD Promotions]
*imdb name|1816193|Richard Mofe-Damijo