Nollywood Legend Pete Edochie Fires Back at Death Rumors, Says He’s Alive and Ready for 79th Birthday

Nollywood icon Pete Edochie has once again proven that “the lion is not dead,” as he personally stepped forward to debunk a wave of viral death rumors that gripped social media on Tuesday.

The 78-year-old veteran, widely revered for his iconic role as Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart, expressed a mix of amusement and frustration over the latest hoax, which alleged he had passed away in a hospital. Speaking from his home, the actor confirmed he is “alive and kicking,” reminding the public that he is currently preparing to celebrate his 79th birthday this coming March.

“I am alive and will die when my maker calls me home,” Edochie told Vanguard in a late-night interview. “I have been ‘killed’ about seven times now. There was a time they said I died in a plane crash, and another time they said I fell off a mountain in Austria. It seems some people are in a hurry to see me gone, but as the great Nnamdi Azikiwe taught me, those who wish you death often die before you.”

The actor’s son, Uche Edochie, echoed his father’s sentiments, slamming the “madness” of anonymous bloggers who use his father’s name to drive traffic to their websites. He confirmed that no such tragedy has occurred and that the family remains in a “State of Harmony.”

Edochie, a recipient of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and the AMVCA Industry Merit Award, remains one of the most stable pillars of the Nigerian film industry. With a family history of longevity his father lived to nearly a century—the veteran actor assured his fans worldwide that he is in excellent health and has no plans of leaving the stage just yet.