By Benjamin Njoku

Since the advent of what is today known as Nollywood in the early 90s, actors have come and gone, like the saying that “soldier go and soldier come and barracks remain”. One needs not to argue the fact that the growth of the industry has translated into the discovery and projections of emerging talents whose startling performances further give credence to the industry.

But at the same time, we must also acknowledge some of the notable faces who made waves at a very auspicious time in the industry and later descended into oblivion. HVP takes a crucial look at the trend in the industry and the place of these old but once popular faces who are currently missing in action as well as the “evergreen actors and actresses.”

Ego Boyo

More than a decade ago, Ego Boyo used to be one of the leading actresses in Nollywood . She had acted in so many soaps and a few home videos. The role she played in the now rested soap “Checkmate”and later Amaka Igwe’s “Violated” is still fresh in the minds of those that watched these productions in the 90s.

But after a while, this charming actress quietly disappeared from the scene, especially after she got married to her man, Onamofe Boyo, the Big Boy who plays in the oil sector. Today, not only that her face is being missed on screen, Ego has since transformed into a movie producer. She presides overa production outfit called Temple Productions which is into the pre and post production of most of the best movies/commercials that you see around.

Pat Attah

Play boy actor, Pat currently based in Hamburg, Germany used to be one of the pioneers of the Nigerian movie industry. Apart from acting, he is also a model and musician. This handsome actor has been absent from the movie scene for close to a decade now. He is said to be making huge waves in Europe with his music career.

Pat burst onto the movie scene in the early 90s , playing the lead character in the popular soap, “Mega Fortunes’, where he acted as Ken. He was the star of “Glamour Girls”, the first ever Nollywood English movie released in 1994.

Since then, he has featured and starred in over 40 movies including “Secret Fantasy”, “Final Spirit of Love”, “Fools in Love”, “More than Gold”, “Only Love” and “Songs of Sorrow” before disappearing with the wind. Recently, Pat was a victim of fraud on facebook as the fraudsters used his name to open a fake Orphanage, St. Patrick Orphanage with the intention defrauding unsuspecting donors. The issue here is that the lover boyactor has found a second profession and abandoned acting.

Eucharia Anunobi

Since her debut in 1994, in the movie “Glamour Girls 2”, Eucharia Anunobi has enjoyed a flourishing career in Nollywood. She has sojourned in the industry for over sixteen years, featuring in more than 164 movies. But in recent times, the face of the daring actress has been scarce on screen. An indication that she has bid the make-believe industry farewell.

Rumour mongers say the fair-complexioned actress lost the zeal to act after she fell out with her husband, Mr. Ekwu, who walked out of the marriage without any warnings few years ago.

If she eventually returns to acting, it may take a long while perhaps after the dust created by her marriage break-up settles.

Regina Askia-Williams

A former beauty queen, model and actress of great repute,

Askia-Williams break into Nollywood in 1993, when she played gold-digging Tokunbo Johnson in Nigerian soap “Fortunes” (later Mega Fortunes), a role which earned her critical acclaim.

Although the home video sequel Dark Goddess was a commercial flop, she found herself cast in more Nollywood movies, and has been nominated at numerous award ceremonies for her performances.

The charming actress produced several television shows and films to her credit before she finally disappeared from the screen.

She got married to her ‘Oyingbo’ hubby, Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Williams and has since relocated to America with her family. We learnt she has bagged a Doctorate degree in Nursing, a feast that has left one wondering whether she will ever return to her first love-acting. It would be recalled that the pretty actress was named Best Actress in Nigeria by Afro Hollywood London in 2000, and later earned more movie award nominations. She fronted the 2000-N-Six campaign alongside her model daughter Stephanie in 2001. Regina’s stepping out of the spotlight in Nigeria has left a permanent vacuum. And her fans can tell better.

Charles Okafor

Mention one or two actors that really made names for themselves in the early days of Nollywood, and your mind will go to Charles Okafor and Kenneth Okonkwo.

Charles made a name in Nollywood after he starred in movies like “Ritual”, “Never Die for Love”, “Lost Kingdom”, “Conspiracy”, Ënd of the Wicked”and other television soaps by Zeb Ejiro. But suddenly, this Umuleri, Anambra State born actor disappeared from the screen.

Like Gloria Anozie-Young, Charles’ disappearance from the screen, has been blamed on the producers who consistently refused to give him roles as he decided to take his destiny into his hands.

Now married with kids, Charles was a wonderful and excellent actor, and many industry operators refer him as Nollywood Bad Boy before there was J.T Tom West, Hanks Anuku, Pat Attah, Chidi Mokeme, Jim Iyke and many others.