ROLE
DEMI
Deyemi
Okanlawon
Deyemi
Okanlawon
Producer
,Entrepreneur
,Award-winning
Actor
,Influencer
,Director
,Voice Actor
,Host
,Father
andHusband
Phone Number
+234(0)9039169478SHOW REEL
SHOWREEL
Early LifeBeginningsFilm debutActingAccoladesBusinessProducing
biography
Deyemi Okanlawon (born 19 April 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a film, television, theatre and voice actor. Widely regarded as one of the most versatile actors in the Nigerian film industry, Deyemi is best known for his roles in the Netflix Original films and series; Blood Sisters, The King’s Horseman, Castle and Castle, King of Boys: The Return of the King, Lisabi as well as several other blockbusters including Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Prophetess, All’s Fair In Love. and was listed in the Film One Box Office report as the highest grossing Nollywood actor of 2020 and 2021.
Okanlawon was born in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria to an Aircraft Engineer father Adeyemi Okanlawon, and Adeyinka Okanlawon a baker and entrepreneur. He had his primary school education at Taikenny Nursery and Primary School in Lagos, and his secondary education at International School, Lagos. He then went on to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. A former sales and marketing executive he also obtained a Certificate in Acting for Film, from the Del-York Creative Academy.
career
Okanlawon had his first experience with acting at the age of 5, when he featured in an 'end-of-year' play while in primary school. At the age of 9, Okanlawon featured in a nationally syndicated Television commercial with Kunle Bamtefa and Sola Sobowale. While at the University of Lagos, Okanlawon became an active member of the drama groups Gf(x) (Harvesters Company), Xtreme Reaction and Snapshots (Covenant Christian Centre).
Upon graduation he worked as a sales and marketing executive in several industries including FMCG, Financial Service and Tech
Okanlawon made his feature film debut in the 2010 movie ZR-7 as well as a short film titled A Grain of Wheat. He went on to feature in and co-produce many more short films and by 2012 he had gained notoriety for his numerous appearances in short films and web series including Gidi Up, Blink and Knock Knock.
In 2013 he switched careers to focus on acting full-time and has since featured in over 50 films, TV series, theatre productions, music videos and commercials, winning and being nominated for several top African film awards including AFRIFF, AMAA, AMVCA, GMA, BON, In-Short, City People.
In 2015, Deyemi founded Covenant Entertainment Services, a full service production advisory, marketing consulting and talent management firm and soon became a consultant to Silverbird Film Distribution. In 2019 he took up the position of marketing manager at Silverbird Distribution, rose to head Nollywood and Independent movie distribution and by 2020 during the pandemic Deyemi took over the management of the operations of the company as acting CEO before he went back to acting full time in 2021.
In 2024, after 10 years in the industry and with his sales and marketing experience coupled with knowledge garnered both in front and behind the camera, Deyemi produced his first movie All’s Fair In Love, a romantic comedy featuring Timini Egbuson and Buhle Samuels. The movie grossed over N130,000,000 in West Africa box office and is currently licensed to Prime Video where it became the 2nd most watched Nollywood title of 2024.
Deyemi is married to Damilola and they have 3 children.
FEATURED projects
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE
DIRECTED BY
KAYODE KASUM
PLATFORM
AMAZON PRIME
BLOOD SISTERS
ROLE
KOLA ADEMOLA
DIRECTED BY
Biyi bandele, Kenneth gyang
PLATFORM
NETFLIX
Omo Ghetto: the Saga
ROLE
Femi Stone
DIRECTED BY
Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz
PLATFORM
NETFLIX
King of Boys: The Return of the King
ROLE
Adetola Fashina
DIRECTED BY
Kemi Adetiba
PLATFORM
NETFLIX
Elesin Oba:
The King’s HorsemanROLE
Olunde
DIRECTED BY
Biyi Bandele
PLATFORM
NETFLIX
Sista
ROLE
Fola Snr
DIRECTED BY
Biodun Stephen
PLATFORM
Amazon Prime
010203040506
06
FULL FILMOGRAPHY
2024
Crossroads
Oyekan
Tope Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani
Amazon Prime
2024
Ajosepo
Uncle Frank
Kayode Kasum
2024
Unknown Soja
Bayo Koberu
Marc Adebesin
2024
3 Working Days
Onari
Jerry Ossai
2024
Dead Serious
Deremi
Moses Inwang
2024
All’s Fair in Love
Demi
Kayode Kasum
Amazon Prime
2023
Over The Bridge
Kunle
Tolu Ajayi
2023
Osato
Pius
Charles Uwagbai
2023
Maniac
Detective Chidi
James Abinibi
2023
Sista
Fola Snr
Biodun Stephen
Amazon Prime
2023
The Origin: Madam Koikoi
Theophilus
Jay Franklyn
Netflix
2023
Kesari
Aronimoja 2
Tope Adebayo, Ibrahim Itele
2023
Love in a Pandemic
Alex
Akay Ilozobhie
Amazon Prime
2023
Domitilla: The Sequel
Zeb Ejiro
2023
A Green Fever
Colonel Okoli
Taiwo Egunjobi
Amazon Prime
2023
Imade
Jide
Toyin Abraham
Amazon Prime
2023
Domino Effect
Kola
Freddie George
2022
Blood Sisters
Kola
Biyi Bandele
Netflix
2022
Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman
Olunde
Biyi Bandele
Netflix
2021
Prophetess
Fogo Bombastic
Niyi Akinmolayan
Netflix
2021
Swallow
Sanwo
Kunle Afolayan
2021
King of Boys: The Return of the King
Adetola Fashina
Kemi Adetiba
Netflix
2020
Omo Ghetto: The Saga
Femi Stone
JJC Skillz
Netflix
2020
Rise of the Saints
Wale
Samuel O. Olateru
2019
Two Weeks in Lagos
Joshua
Kathryn Fasegha
Netflix
2018
Castle & Castle
Kwabena Mills
-
Netflix
2017
The Royal Hibiscus Hotel
Martin
Ishaya Bako
Neflix
2016
Dinner
Richard 'Richie' Boyo
Jay Franklin Jituboh
Netflix
2016
It's About Your Husband
Kay
Bunmi Ajakaiye
2016
Madam Caitlyn
Dr Sam
-
2015
Desperate Housegirls
Femi
Sukanmi Adebayo, Akin-Tijani
2015
Undercover Lover
Mr Roberts
Okey Ifeanyi
2015
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Kay
Pascal Amanfo
2015
Road To Yesterday
Michael
Ishaya Bako
2014
A Place Called Happy
Dele
LowlaDee
2014
A Few Good Men
Wale
Ejiro Onobrakpor
2014
Dowry
Demola
Victor Sanchez
2014
Lekki Wives
Hassan
Blessing Egbe
Youtube
2013
Kpians: The Feast of Souls
Eric
Stanlee Ohikhuare
2013
Oblivious
Charles
Stanlee Ohikhuare
2012
Gidi Up
Tokunbo
Jade Osiberu
Youtube
2012
Journey To Self
Ex lover
Tope Oshin-Ogun
Amazon
2010
ZR-7
Alabi
Udoka, Olufemi
Year
Title
Role
Director
Platform
Crossroads
Dir. by Tope Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani
Role: Oyekan
Ajosepo
Dir. by Kayode Kasum
Role: Uncle Frank
Unknown Soja
Dir. by Marc Adebesin
Role: Bayo Koberu
3 Working Days
Dir. by Jerry Ossai
Role: Onari
Dead Serious
Dir. by Moses Inwang
Role: Deremi
All’s Fair in Love
Dir. by Kayode Kasum
Role: Demi
Over The Bridge
Dir. by Tolu Ajayi
Role: Kunle
Osato
Dir. by Charles Uwagbai
Role: Pius
Maniac
Dir. by James Abinibi
Role: Detective Chidi
Sista
Dir. by Biodun Stephen
Role: Fola Snr
The Origin: Madam Koikoi
Dir. by Jay Franklyn
Role: Theophilus
Kesari
Dir. by Tope Adebayo, Ibrahim Itele
Role: Aronimoja 2
Love in a Pandemic
Dir. by Akay Ilozobhie
Role: Alex
Domitilla: The Sequel
Dir. by Zeb Ejiro
Role:
A Green Fever
Dir. by Taiwo Egunjobi
Role: Colonel Okoli
Imade
Dir. by Toyin Abraham
Role: Jide
Domino Effect
Dir. by Freddie George
Role: Kola
Blood Sisters
Dir. by Biyi Bandele
Role: Kola
Elesin Oba, The King's Horseman
Dir. by Biyi Bandele
Role: Olunde
Prophetess
Dir. by Niyi Akinmolayan
Role: Fogo Bombastic
Swallow
Dir. by Kunle Afolayan
Role: Sanwo
King of Boys: The Return of the King
Dir. by Kemi Adetiba
Role: Adetola Fashina
Omo Ghetto: The Saga
Dir. by JJC Skillz
Role: Femi Stone
Rise of the Saints
Dir. by Samuel O. Olateru
Role: Wale
Two Weeks in Lagos
Dir. by Kathryn Fasegha
Role: Joshua
Castle & Castle
Dir. by -
Role: Kwabena Mills
The Royal Hibiscus Hotel
Dir. by Ishaya Bako
Role: Martin
Dinner
Dir. by Jay Franklin Jituboh
Role: Richard 'Richie' Boyo
It's About Your Husband
Dir. by Bunmi Ajakaiye
Role: Kay
Madam Caitlyn
Dir. by -
Role: Dr Sam
Desperate Housegirls
Dir. by Sukanmi Adebayo, Akin-Tijani
Role: Femi
Undercover Lover
Dir. by Okey Ifeanyi
Role: Mr Roberts
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Dir. by Pascal Amanfo
Role: Kay
Road To Yesterday
Dir. by Ishaya Bako
Role: Michael
A Place Called Happy
Dir. by LowlaDee
Role: Dele
A Few Good Men
Dir. by Ejiro Onobrakpor
Role: Wale
Dowry
Dir. by Victor Sanchez
Role: Demola
Lekki Wives
Dir. by Blessing Egbe
Role: Hassan
Kpians: The Feast of Souls
Dir. by Stanlee Ohikhuare
Role: Eric
Oblivious
Dir. by Stanlee Ohikhuare
Role: Charles
Gidi Up
Dir. by Jade Osiberu
Role: Tokunbo
Journey To Self
Dir. by Tope Oshin-Ogun
Role: Ex lover
ZR-7
Dir. by Udoka, Olufemi
Role: Alabi
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2010
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
23
22
19
18
16
15
13
Eko Heritage Award
Eko Most Stylish Actor of the Year
African Movie Academy
Best Actor in a Leading Role for 'Swallow'
African Magic Viewers Choice
Best Actor in a Comedy for 'Omo Ghetto: the Saga'
Best of Nollywood Awards
Best Supporting Actor for 'Levi'
City People Movie Awards
Best Actor of the Year
City People Movie Awards
Best Supporting Actor of the Year
City People Movie Awards
Most Promising Actor
Ghana Movie Awards
Best Supporting Actor for 'An African City'
Ghana Movie Awards
Best Actor, African Collaboration for 'No Man's Land'
Ghana Movie Awards
Best Actor, African Collaboration for 'If Tomorrow Never Comes'
Best of Nollywood
Revelation of the Year
Best Animation
Best Animation
Eko Heritage Award
Eko Most Stylish Actor of the Year
African Movie Academy
Best Actor in a Leading Role for 'Swallow'
African Magic Viewers Choice
Best Actor in a Comedy for 'Omo Ghetto: the Saga'
Best of Nollywood Awards
Best Supporting Actor for 'Levi'
City People Movie Awards
Best Actor of the Year
City People Movie Awards
Best Supporting Actor of the Year
City People Movie Awards
Most Promising Actor
Ghana Movie Awards
Best Supporting Actor for 'An African City'
Ghana Movie Awards
Best Actor, African Collaboration for 'No Man's Land'
Ghana Movie Awards
Best Actor, African Collaboration for 'If Tomorrow Never Comes'
Best of Nollywood
Revelation of the Year
Best Animation
Best Animation
PARTNERSHIPS
FEATURED
Deyemi Okanlawon x Windows Copilot
PRESS MENTIONS
A Wedding That Goes Horribly Wrong Tells a Universal Story in Netflix’s First Nigerian TV Original ‘Blood Sisters’
Variety, May 2022
10 Highest-Grossing Nigerian Actors in 2023 - Film0ne
Business Elites Africa, May 2024
The King's Horseman
Tiff, July 2022
Acting in Blood Sisters drained me mentally – Deyemi Okanlawon
The Punch, May 2022
I didn't come looking for fame
- Deyemi OkanlawonPulse Nigeria, January 2024
“All’s Fair in Love” - Deyemi Okanlawon exceeds Box Office prediction by 118%
NairaMetrics, July 2024
Nigerian digital Bank, Kredi Bank, signs Deyemi as its first brand ambassador
NairaMetrics, May 2024
Netflix Nigeria’s “Blood Sisters” Was One of the Best 2022 Shows. Here’s Why It Matters to Nollywood’s Future.
Teen Vogue, December 2022
Nigerian movie Blood Sisters rank 9 on Netflix Globally
NairaMetrics, May 2022
Netflix first original series from Nigeria drops highly anticipated trailer
CNN, August 2021
