Joseph Benjamin (born 9 November 1976) is a Nigerian

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

model A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure. Models c ...

singer Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

Voice-over Artist Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent ...

and

television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces, hosts television show, television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. Nowadays, it is common for ...

mainly known for co-hosting MTN's ''

Project Fame ''Project Fame'' was a pan-African version of the international talent/reality show ''Star Academy''. Held in Johannesburg, South Africa from June to August 2004, the show had 16 African contestants – 9 of which were South African – groomed ...

'', a talent reality show, and starring in the movies '' Tango With Me'', '' Mr. and Mrs.'', and ''

Murder at Prime Suites ''Murder at Prime Suites (M@PS)'' is a 2013 Nigerian crime thriller film directed by Chris Eneng starring Joseph Benjamin, Keira Hewatch and Chelsea Eze. The movie was inspired by a much publicized similar murder that occurred in Lagos. The fi ...

''. He won the African Actor of the Year award at the 2012 African Film Awards. For his role in

Married but Living Single ''Married but Living Single'' is a 2012 Nigerian romantic drama film, directed by Tunde Olaoye and starring Funke Akindele, Joseph Benjamin, Joke Silva, Tina Mba, Kiki Omeili and Femi Brainard. The film was inspired by a book of the same nam ...

, he won the best lead actor at the

2012 Best of Nollywood Awards The 4th Best of Nollywood Awards was held at Tafawa Balewa Square Auditorium in Lagos, Nigeria. A total of 32 awards were given out to practitioners of the Nigerian film industry. The ceremony was co-hosted by Nollywood actor Nonso Diobi and form ...

Personal life

Joseph was born on 9 November 1976, to a

Kogi State Kogi State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti and Kwara, to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, to the northeast by Nasarawa State, to the northwest by Niger State, to the s ...

indigene father and an

Anambra State Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...

mother. Joseph Benjamin completed his primary school education in Benue State in the northern part of Nigeria and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. After which he completed his secondary school education in Lagos State in the south western part of Nigeria and obtained his West African Senior School Certificate. Joseph relocated to the United States in 2016, where he currently resides. He identifies as a born-again Christian.

Career

Early career

Joseph made his movie debut in ''Crossroads'', in 1991 (alongside

Ramsey Nouah Ramsey Nouah (born Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Jr.; 19 December 1970) is a Nigerian actor and director. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2010 for his performance in the movie '' The Figurine''. He made his dire ...

and

Sandra Achums Sandra Achums is a Nigerian television personality, philanthropist, and most imperative, a veteran actress. Early life and education Sandra Achums was born in Imo state which is located in the south-eastern part of the West African nation; Ni ...

); however, his screen debut was earlier, when he appeared at age 12 in the television program ''Tales by Moonlight'' on NTA.

Nolly breakthrough and TV personality

Joseph has starred in several television series, including ''Edge of Paradise'', in which he was being "crushed on" by his neighbor's daughter, and ''Super Story''. His definite breakthrough in film came in the early 2010s, with roles in romantic-themed films such as ''Kiss and Tell'', ''Tango With Me'', which was nominated for five Africa Movie Awards, and ''Married but Living Single.'' He broke typecasting in 2013 by playing a detective in the 2013 crime thriller ''

'' (MAPS), which was inspired by an actual criminal case in Lagos, Nigeria, in which a woman was murdered by someone she met on Facebook. Shortly after completing MAPS, Joseph joined the cast of Desperate Housewives Africa, the Nigerian remake of the American hit series, playing the role of Chuka Obi, housewife Kiki Obi's wealthy and domineering husband, opposite

Kehinde Bankole Kehinde Bankole (born 27 March 1985) is a Nigerian actress, model, and television host. She made her entertainment debut in the ''2003 Miss Commonwealth Nigeria beauty contest'', then proceeded to the ''2004 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria page ...

. He co-hosted, with Adaora Oleh, MTN ''Project Fame West Africa'' between 2009 and 2016, and has appeared in TV and radio commercials.

Singer

Having sung in a choir since his early twenties, Joseph launched a career in professional singing in 2012, collaborating with singer Sabina on the album ''Merry Christmas'' that year. A devout Christian, he has since specialized in the gospel and inspirational genre with the singles ''Joy'' in 2016 and ''I Pour My Love'' in 2020. He has stated that he considers himself a musician first and foremost. He recently dropped single and he is working on releasing an EP in 2022.

Awards and nominations

Filmography

Films

Television

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Joseph 1976 births Male actors from Benue State Living people Nigerian male film actors 20th-century Nigerian male actors 21st-century Nigerian male actors Nigerian male television actors Male actors in Yoruba cinema Nigerian male models Nigerian male singers Nigerian television presenters