Okechukwu Ukeje popularly known as OC Ukeje was born on 15th of July, 1981 in Lagos state. The second child of a family of 3 children nursed his interests at the end of secondary school, concentrating mainly on singing before beginning a career in acting from his first year at the University of Lagos, Nigeria with a lead role in a stage play. He focused on stage plays specifically for the first 4years of his career, before winning the 2006 Amstel Malta Box Office reality TV show for actors. He began a full career with a merger of stage and screen. His first screen appearance, as directed by Izu Ojukwu was in White Waters (2008) with the acclaimed Joke Silva and Rita Dominic.
He went on to win the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for the Best Upcoming Actor (2008) and the City People’s Award for Best New Act (2010).Chai! na only am come act?
OC in 2007, was a member of cast of the TV series that was presented at the International Emmy World Television Festival, Wetin Dey produced by the BBC World Service Trust and played lead and supporting lead roles in films like Comrade, Confusion Na Wa and The Awakening. He featured in acclaimed Nigerian director, Jeta Amata’s Black November (2012), along with Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Sarah Wayne-Callies, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Vivica Fox, Fred Amata and a host of others.
He also featured in the screen adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun (2013) with Chinwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton and Anika Noni-Rose as lead cast as directed by Biyi Bandele, which premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and screens at the London International film festival. His most recently premiered movies in Nigeria were Alan Poza (2013) and Confusion Na Wa (2013) and he was on the repertory team that showcased 3 stage plays for the Nigeria House at the London Cultural Olympiad (2012). In 2012, he played the second lead in the screen adaptation of Bola Agbaje’s award winning play, Gone Too Far, sponsored by the British Film Institute and premieres at the 2013 London International Film Festival.
In his spare time he writes material for his music, works on radio jingles and collaborates with other musical artistes and producers.
He received the 2013 Best Actor in a Drama Award at the inaugural Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards ceremony; the 2013 Best Actor in a Lead Role Award at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards and was nominated in the Best Actor category at the Africa Movie Academy Awards(AMAA). He has been nominated in the Best Lead Actor category for the 2013 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards(GIAMA); Best Lead Actor and Rising Star categories for the 2013 Nigerian Movie Awards (NMA); Best Lead Actor category for the Best Of Nollywood Awards (BON) as well as the 2013 Future Awards Africa Prize in Entertainment Category.
He is married to Ibukun Togonu Bickerseth. He recently won Best Actor in a Drama again at Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award 2015. Is this luck or the hand of God? Thats a question for another day.
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