Asaba: The Delta Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Richard Mofe-Damijo, has blamed  excessive stress, resulting from intense pressure of acting, for the death of  veteran actor, Sam Loco Efeimwonkiyeke, on Sunday.

Reacting to the death of the Edo-born actor, Mofe-Damijo said, in Asaba, that actors in the country worked for endless hours without food or rest during production.

According to him, Sam Loco had immersed himself in the movie production in Port Harcourt, paying  less attention to his medical problems.

Sam Loco, 66, reportedly died in a hotel in Owerri, after a post-production work on the “Unknown Prophet”, which he directed.

Mofe-Damijo said, “Sam Loco’s death should make actors in the country to re-examine the condition under which they work.

“We rush to complete a whole load of work in a short period, doing so without food or rest.”

He said that remuneration in the industry had become good, but that the key issue, which actors must address was working condition.

“We stay in hunger, working for long periods and without even an hour break and after all that, actors don’t bother to go for medical checks.”

The commissioner described the late actor’s demise as a painful loss to every actor and Nigerian.

He said that Sam Loco brought joy to many homes through his acting, but regretted that he did not live long enough to enjoy his fame and goodwill.

Mofe-Damijo said that the deceased actor was his role model in the theatre business, adding that he decided to study Theatre Arts in the university because of Sam Loco’s acting influence on him.

According to him, I grew up watching him and Jimi Solanke in drama programmes on television and indeed, Sam Loco was one of the models that made me to study Theatres Arts so I can be like him.

“I was lucky to have, after graduating from the university, shared acting moments with him.

“He was dedicated to acting and was a great influence on younger actors. He loved the theatre and his life was that of total dedication to the theatre.”

The commissioner said that actors would rally round to give the fallen actor a burial that would match his status in the film industry. (NAN)