Veteran Yoruba movie star, Olusegun Akinremi, popularly known as Chief Kanran, has died at the age of 70.
The news of his passing was confirmed on Friday morning by film producer and media executive, Seun Oloketuyi, in an Instagram post. “Popular actor Segun Remi, popularly known as Chief Kanran, died Friday morning. Details soon,” Oloketuyi wrote.
Chief Kanran was a celebrated figure in the Yoruba film industry, revered for his refined elegance, trademark humour, love for luxury, and commanding on-screen presence. Known for his mastery in portraying powerful characters — often as kings, chiefs, or wealthy elders — his performances left a lasting imprint on both stage and screen for nearly five decades.
Born in 1955, Akinremi began his professional acting career in 1975, playing the title role in Kurunmi, a play by Prof. Ola Rotimi. His transition from stage to television saw him feature in Mirror in the Sun and Images, while his major stage breakthrough came with Langbodo, Nigeria’s official drama entry for FESTAC ’77, performed at the National Arts Theatre, Lagos.
On television, his portrayal of Alaafin Kanran in a Lagos Television drama broadcast on October 1, 1988, remains one of his most iconic performances. In film, he appeared in numerous Yoruba classics, including Ewe Orun, Aiye, Efunsetan Aniwura, Agbarin, and Bata Wahala.
In a 2020 interview with PUNCH, the actor revealed he had stepped back from the industry due to politics and cliques within the profession, saying, “Some people see people like me as a threat because I will not do anything that is not professional.”
As at the time of filing this report, the cause of his death has not been disclosed, and his family is yet to make an official statement regarding funeral arrangements.
Chief Kanran’s death marks the end of an era for many fans and colleagues who regarded him as one of the pillars of Yoruba theatre and cinema.
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