Junior Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as Jnr Pope, was a celebrated actor in Nollywood who gained fame after his role in the 2007 blockbuster movie “Secret Adventures,” directed by Tchidi Chikere. He appeared in over 150 Nollywood movies, playing a variety of roles including bodyguard, palace attendant, servant, criminal, villain, armed robber, militant, and hitman.
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Jnr Pope began his acting career in 2006, attending numerous auditions and playing minor roles in movies. His breakthrough role in “Secret Adventures” brought him to the limelight. In 2010, he won the award for Nollywood’s Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards. He also won other awards such as Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Tragically, Jnr Pope passed away on the 10th of April, leaving behind a legacy as a legendary figure in the childhoods of many Nigerians, particularly those who grew up in the Eastern part of the country. His death was a great loss to Nollywood and his fans.
Jnr Pope’s Early Life
Jnr Pope is an actor and TV personality who has gained admiration from countless fans across Nigeria and beyond. He was born on May 7th, 1984, in the lively town of Bamenda, Cameroon. Jnr Pope’s upbringing was a rich blend of Cameroonian and Nigerian cultures since his father, Luke Odonwodo, hailed from Nigeria, while his mother proudly embraced her Cameroonian heritage.
Despite his Cameroonian origins, Junior Pope’s affection for Nigeria, particularly the Ukehe tribe in Enugu State, runs deep. It’s where his family’s roots lie, and it’s a cherished aspect of his identity.
Junior Pope found love with his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Awele Okpuno, who works as an event decorator and brand influencer. Their love story began around 2010 when they connected on Facebook. Despite not having met in person, Junior Pope was drawn to her.
Junior Pope proposed to Jennifer on September 22, 2013, after a romantic courtship at a hotel in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. On July 26, 2014, the couple exchanged their vows in a beautiful ceremony held at St. John Bosco’s Catholic Church in Asaba, Delta. Their union has been blessed with three children – two boys and a girl, which have brought joy and fulfilment to their family life.
Actor Junior Pope gets a car gift from E-Money and Kcee
In 2020, Junior Pope and his family were gifted a Lexus car by Kcee and E-Money. Junior Pope hinted that the car gift was for his son and expressed his gratitude towards Kcee and E-Money through an Instagram post. He described them as friends turned brothers and also prayed for God’s blessings to be upon the two brothers.
Jnr Pope’s Net Worth
Jnr Pope has displayed his acting talent in numerous Nollywood movies, contributing to his estimated net worth of $170,000.
Jnr Pope Awards
- Nigeria’s Most Promising Actor at the City People Entertainment Awards
- Best Supporting Actor at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards
- Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy Awards
- Nollywood’s Most Promising Actor in Nigeria was named at the Entertainment Factory Awards.
How Jnr Pope Die?
As per the eyewitness account of movie director Stanley Ontop, it was The Boat Guys who caused the tragic death of Jnr Pope. The Boat Rider was attempting a stunt during a cruise, which resulted in the collision and capsizing of two boats. It is worth noting that the Flying Boats were not equipped with life jackets, and there was no provision to rent them on-site either. This negligence led to the unfortunate incident. Jnr Pope’s wife was summoned to the location, where she witnessed her husband’s lifeless body being pulled out of the river. As of now, two crew members’ bodies are yet to be recovered, and naval divers are scheduled to search for them the next day.
