Nollywood actor Emmanuel France has passed away, as announced by Nigerian filmmaker Olufemi Ogedengbe on Instagram on September 16, 2024.
Ogedengbe fondly remembered working with France, describing him as a Nollywood legend and recalling their time shooting movies together, including She Is My Sister, The Director, and Cross My Sin. The cause of France’s death remains undisclosed.
France had a distinguished career in Nollywood, appearing in numerous films such as Narrow Escape, Silent Night, Witches, and Exile.
Although his nationality has been debated, in a 2011 interview, France clarified that while his roots are from the Gold Coast (now Ghana), he held a Nigerian passport, having been born in Nigeria and not residing in Ghana.
He explained that while Nigerians often thought of him as Ghanaian, he identified with both nations due to his heritage.
His career began in Ghana, where he studied at the School of Journalism in Accra and joined the Ghana Film Corporation in 1969.
Despite his Ghanaian roots, he became well-known and respected in Nollywood, cementing his legacy in the Nigerian film industry.
