Alex Usifo Omiagbo | |
---|---|
Born | 16 April 1953 |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Citizenship | Nigerian |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1984 till present |
Notable work | End of the Wicked |
Alex Usifo (born 16 April 1953) is a veteran Nigerian actor. [1]
Usifo auditioned at different media houses including Radio Nigeria Lagos, Voice of Nigeria, NTA Ilorin etc. He made it to the top list, but was dropped because of ‘Quota System’. He was unemployed for years. On the invitation of his friend/brother Peter Okun, Alex attended a Deeper Life Crusade, where he desperately asked God for a change in his condition, and he got an answer: ‘look inwards’. [2]
His acting career kicked off in 1984 when he played a major role in the tele-movie The Return of the Native. He took lead roles in Natas and Two People. [3] He started attending NTA, Victoria Island to take part in the weekly series At Your Service. He was part of NTA productions: Echoes of Life, and Turning Wheel, between 1984 and 1987.[ citation needed ]
Recognition came in 1988 when he starred in Zeb Ejiro's soap opera, Ripples. Usifo portrayed Talaab Abass. The show broke ground in television because few soap operas existed. Talaab Abass was a villain. Alex interpreted the character with bulging eyes and a baritone voice. [4]
Usifo made a name for himself long before Nollywood came into existence. He participated in stage plays including Awero. This was staged at the National Theatre, Iganmu. He appeared in Ola Rotimi's Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again! also staged at the National Theatre. He featured in radio and films. [5]
Usifo won awards locally and internationally, including: