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Chris Okagbue was born on June 23, 1987 into the royal family of former Obi of Onitsha, H.R.H Obi Ofala Okechukwu Okagbue and Ogechukwu Clara Okagbue of Onitsha Kingdom, Anambra state, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Sociology from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He has five siblings (one older sister Sandra Okagbue, a twin brother Christian Okagbue and three younger sisters Jane Okagbue, Christabel Okagbue and Bella Okagbue).
At the age of 17, he broke into the limelight of the modeling industry, appearing on billboards, newspapers and TV commercials of multinational corporations like MTN, Cadbury Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc (Star Lager Beer), UAC Foods, LG, Coca-Cola Nigeria (Coca-Cola & 5 Alive), Orange Drugs Limited (Canon Extra and Passion Energy Drink), Airtel etc. He is a brand ambassador of Passion Energy Drink at Orange Drugs Limited. He has graced various covers of renowned Nigerian & International magazines.
He has several awards under his belt. The list includes The 9ja Top Models Awards 2008 organized by all Nigerian modeling agencies, Nigerian Models Achievers Awards Model Of The Year 2009, Peak Awards Model Of The Year 2010, Peak Awards Model Of The Year 2012, Nigerian Models Achievers Awards Fast-Rising Model Actor 2014, Lagos Fashion Awards 2015 Special Recognition For Most Fashionable TV Personality Of The Year, Nigerian Icon Fashion Awards Personality Fashion Icon Of The Year 2015, African Entertainment Legend Awards Special Recognition Awards For Achievements In Entertainment, Links Achievers Awards Fast-Rising Actor 2015, Green October Event Awards Most Fashionable Male Celebrity 2017, MoreKlue All Youth Awards Africa For Style Influencer Of The Year 2018, Zulu African Film Academy Awards Best Newcomer for the film Lotanna 2018, Nigerian Designers Social Media Brand Influencer 2018, The Intellects Awards Next Rated Actor 2019, Scream All Youth Awards Actor Of The Year 2019, among other special recognition awards.
Some of his notable award nominations include Golden Movie Awards Golden Actor (Drama) 2017, City People Movie Awards Most Promising Actor of the Year (English) 2017, Nigeria Achievers Awards Next Rated Actor Of The Year 2017, City People Movie Awards Most Featured Actor In Cinemas Movies 2019.
Chris Okagbue, who never wanted to be an actor, stumbled into the acting world by chance. His first encounter with acting came in 2007, just three years after he started modeling. He accompanied a friend to an audition for a soap opera. Out of curiosity as to what all the fuss about acting was, he decided to try out. With his experience as a model, he wasn't camera-shy, neither was he moved by the crowd. Exhuding confidence, great calm, composure and with almost perfect delivery for a 20 year old first time actor, he impressed the panel of judges and instantly landed a small role as Preye Pepple on the soap opera; The Station, directed by Achor Yusuf. After an impressive performance in The Station, in 2008, he got a major role on a TV series; The Maze, by the same director where he played Lucky Edeghor.
After the successful release of The Maze, Chris Okagbue took a break from the acting scene to focus more on modeling and school.
In 2011, Chris Okagbue added another feather to his cap by emerging the winner of Nigeria's first 100% locally produced reality Tv show, the Gulder Ultimate Search Season 8: The Contest Of Champions. He beat 29 other contenders to walk away with a handsome cash prize and a SUV. He became a Gulder Brand Ambassador at Nigerian Breweries Plc, and he earned the right to the prestigious title of "The Ultimate Man", entering his name in the Gulder Ultimate Search Order of Heroes.
Apparently, during his time in the tough jungle, he won the hearts of many who voted him as one of their favorite "Ultimate Men" of all time. This earned him the first of three spots for past winners of the exciting show who went back once more into the jungle to play special roles as 'Gatekeepers' in the Gulder Ultimate Search Season 9: The Gatekeeper's Fortune 2012.
Shortly after the reality TV show, Chris Okagbue landed a role on another popular TV series; Secrets and Scandals directed by Elvis Chuks. But his big break came just a few months later as he was called to audition for a role on Africa's most watched soap opera; M-Net's Tinsel where he landed the role of the strong-headed Emil Haruna.
Chris Okagbue made his big screen acting debut on December 7, 2012 when the feature film; A Wish was released in Nigerian cinemas. Having played a minor role in that, he would return to the big screen in just three months on March 28, 2013 on the movie; Playing Safe where he played the role of Henry alongside Nollywood star actress Tonto Dikeh as his fiancee.
Chris Okagbue, who had finally started enjoying acting more than modeling went ahead to feature in films like Africa Magic's The Deal and EbonyLife Tv's Superstar Me in 2014, EbonyLife Tv's Mixed Feelings, Africa Magic's 27, Audio Visual First Productions' Fast lane and 40 Days in 2015, Africa's first Afrobeat dance film; TDMP (The Dance Movie Project), Caged Hearts, Hidden Truth and Colourless in 2016, Mentally, Mummy Dearest 2: The Wedding and Drawing Strength in 2017, Diana, Dark Shades, Zoe, The Washerman, Drowning, his second dance themed film For Old Times' Sake, Room 201, Swapped, Bolanle Austen-Peters' directorial debut film, The Bling Lagosians, Intruder, A Woman's Wrath, Mma and Girls Night Out in 2018, Thorn of Fire, Love and Lust, The Prenup, The Moles, Women In Our Lives, Inhibition, The Creek, Slip, The Grim, You'll Never Walk Alone, My Grandfather's Wife, Game Up, The Second Bed, Room Mates, Death Bed, Love Potion, Two Can Play At That, One Lagos Night and What Other Couples do in 2019, The Wig, Ms. Ali, Before The Game Begins, Film One's Sanitation Day, The Graduate, Ghost Story, Tight Rope and Brutal Decision in 2020. On the small screen, Chris Okagbue continued to impress in soap operas and Tv series. His works include playing Jayjay in EbonyLife Tv's mini series Dowry season one and two in 2013 and 2014 respectively, Kelvin Peters in award winning director Obi Emelonye's Tv series The Calabash in January, 2015, Jamal in Kala and Jamal Tv series in March, 2016, Leo in The Reason It's You in April, 2016, Bryan in Maxima Productions The Condo in September, 2016, Oz on M-Net hit series Hush in 2017, Ekere on M-Net's first of its kind hit epic series Ajoche in 2018, Tosan in the web series Backseat in 2019, Ademide Kuku in Africa Magic's Telenovela Unbroken, and Ebuka in the web series Grow Up Or Nuts in 2020.
In 2017, Chris Okagbue proved his mettle as a highly talented actor with his stellar performance as leading man in what was one of the most anticipated films of 2017; Lotanna, alongside Ghanaian star actress Ama K. Abebrese from award winning Hollywood film; Beasts Of No Nation. Lotanna was directed by Toka McBaror. It premiered in Nigeria on April 8th, 2017.
Shortly after filming Lotanna, Chris Okagbue reunited with Lotanna Director, Toka McBaror once again as leading man, Jerome to deliver yet another emotionally gripping performance in the film; Kada River, a highly acclaimed true life adaptation film premised on the southern Kaduna crisis in Nigeria, alongside Nollywood veterans, Joke Silva, Rachel Oniga, Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey and Ghanaian starlet, Fella Makafui.
In September, 2017, Chris Okagbue attended the Nollywood Travel Film Festival which held in Toronto, Canada where two of his movies, Kada River (opening film) and Lotanna were screened as official selections. In 2018, the Nollywood Travel Film Festival announced Chris Okagbue as an official festival ambassador for the 2018 edition of the festival.
In January, 2019, Chris Okagbue made his official debut on stage acting in a comedic play titled Election Fever. The play centers around the Nigerian government and it's electoral system. The play which was directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters and was supported by The Ford Foundation, British Council and the Lagos Theatre Festival, showed in several secondary schools and universities including Lagos State University and the University of Lagos. The closing show was on the 8th of April, 2019 at the famous Terra Kulture during the Lagos Theater Festival, 2019.
Chris Okagbue who is also a great dancer and vocalist, nurses a strong passion for music. He is inspired by the likes of defunct group P-Square, Banky W, Chris Brown, Usher and the late Michael Jackson.
Chris Okagbue is the associate producer of the film Lotanna, where he also played the lead role.
