Frederick Nnaemeka Leonard, (born May 1, 1976)
is a Nigerian actor who won the award for ''Best Supporting Actor'' in a movie at the ''
Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards
''Golden Icons Academy Awards (GIAMA)'' is an annual film award in the diaspora to reward outstanding contribution to the African film industry. The first edition was held in Houston, Texas, United States. The most recent ceremony was held in Staff ...
in 2014''
and in 2016 won the ''City People Movie Award For Best Supporting Actor of the Year (English)'' at the
City People Entertainment Awards
City People Entertainment Awards are an annual accolade presented by '' City People Magazine'' to honour Nigerian and Ghanaian entertainers. The first edition was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on June 14, 2009. The event was hosted by Governor G ...
.
Early life and education
Leonard was born in
Anambra State
Anambra () is a States of Nigeria, state in Nigeria. It is located in the South East (Nigeria), South-eastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Ri ...
, Nigeria which is a south-eastern geographical area of Nigeria predominantly occupied by the
Igbo people
The Igbo people ( , ; also spelled Ibo" and historically also ''Iboe'', ''Ebo'', ''Eboe'',
/
/
''Eboans'', ''Heebo'';
natively ) are an ethnic group found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Their primary origin is fo ...
of Nigeria. He is the firstborn child of his parents in a family of four consisting of two children, a mother and a father. He received primary education in St Peter's Anglican Primary School, Alausa, Ikeja In
Lagos State
Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...
and attended Oregun High School in Oregun,
Ikeja
Ikeja is the List of capitals of states of Nigeria, capital city of Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313,196. Prior to the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja was a well planned, cl ...
In
Lagos State
Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...
also for secondary education.
In bid to obtain a degree he relocated to
Kaduna State
Kaduna (, جىِهَر كَدُنا; مدينة كدونا; , ; ) is a States of Nigeria, state in the northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The state capital is its namesake, the city of Kaduna (city), Kaduna, which was the List of Nigerian ...
In Northern Nigeria and applied to
Kaduna Polytechnic
Kaduna Polytechnic is one of the earliest polytechnics in Nigeria, located in Tudun Wada (Kaduna State), Tudun Wada area of Kaduna South local government of Kaduna state, Northern Region, Nigeria, North-Western Nigeria.
History
It was establi ...
where he was accepted and eventually graduated with a degree in biochemistry.
He is married to
Peggy Ovire.
Career
Leonard debuted his career into the Nigerian movie industry in 2001 where he played brief one scene roles and took a break from acting almost immediately after he debuted in order to complete his university education and obtain a degree. Upon completion of his university education, Leonard returned to the Nigerian movie industry referred to commonly as
Nollywood
Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...
in 2008 and obtained his first ever lead role in a movie titled ''Indian Doctor''.
In 2009, he ventured into the Nigerian TV soap opera series and featured in a TV series titled ''Disclosure'' which aired predominantly on
Africa Magic
Africa Magic is a collection of Pay TV entertainment channels that focus on African programming, most popularly Nigerian series and movies. ''Africa Magic'', which started off as single channel of the same name, is a brand owned by M-Net and no ...
on
DSTV. Leonard debuted his career with a movie titled ''Grey'' and subsequently in 2019 produced a movie titled ''Void''.
Influence
Leonard credited
Bimbo Akintola
Bimbo Akintola (born 5 May 1970) is a Nigerian actress.
Early life and education
Akintola was born on 5 May 1970 to a father from Oyo State and a mother from Edo State, Nigeria. She studied at Maryland Convent Private School in Lagos State. ...
, a Nigerian female actress as one of the people who have influenced his acting style.
Awards and nominations
Personal life
Leonard is an orphan and has spoken publicly about the devastating impact of losing both parents especially the death of his mother which he described as an unfortunate incident that has created a void in his life.
Leonard in an interview with a Nigerian print media
This Day
''This Day'' is a Nigerian national newspaper. It is the flagship newspaper of Leaders & Company Ltd., and was first published on 22 January 1995. It has its headquarters in Apapa, Lagos State. Founded by Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman and edit ...
, described himself as introvert and not the party type and also revealed that he doesn't drink nor smoke and maintains a very small circle of few friends and family.
He married his long-time partner and colleague,
Peggy Ovire, on November 19, 2022.
Selected filmography
Films (partial)
*''Maid of Honour (2024) as David''
*''Ghetto Heart (2024) as Kess''
*''Man in Love (2024) as Freddie''
*''A Father's Love (2024) as Frank''
*''Crushed (2023) as Tony''
*''Good Things (2023) as Oliver''
*''Stay (2022) as Dave''
*''On Her Terms (2022) as Jason''
*''Desperate son (2021)''
*''The Royal dignity (2021)''
*''A Perfect Past (2020) as Sly''
*''
Our Jesus Story
''Our Jesus Story'', is a 2020 Nigerian religious drama film directed by Tchidi Chikere and produced by Ojiofor Ezeanyaeche for O.J Production. The film stars Frederick Leonard in the lead role as Jesus the Christ, whereas Zack Orji, Sam Dede ...
'' (2020) as Jesus Christ
*''Void (2019) as Tonna''
*''The Reunion (2019)''
*
40 Looks Good on You
''40 Looks Good on You'' is a 2019 Ghanaian film directed by Pascal Amanfo.
Synopsis
Five friends Stacy, Yaaba, Mawusi, Araaba, and Ruth who met at the university, made a promise to themselves that by age forty they should have achieved everyt ...
(2019)
*''A Better Family (2018) as Nick''
*''In Every Way (2018) as Dominic''
*''Timid Timi (2017) as Daniel''
*''Discontent (2017) as Damian''
*''Promise Beyond (2016) as Victor Asare''
*''Monster Under Skin (2015)''
*''A Certain Night (2014) as John''
*''Accident (2013) as Chike''
*''Miss Queen (2012) as Richard''
*''100% Secret (2012) as Collins''
*''Courtesy of Vengeance (2012) as Nkado''
*''Felicima: One Gift (2009) as Musa''
*''Plane Crash (2008) as Charles''
*''Indian Doctor (2008) as Chibuzor''
See also
*
List of Nigerian actors
This is a list of notable Nigerian actors. Actors
* Adebayo Salami
* Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
* Afeez Oyetoro
* Alex Ekubo
* Ali Nuhu
* Ayo Makun
* Babatunde Omidina
* Bob-Manuel Udokwu
* Bovi
* Broda Shaggi
* Charles Inojie
* Che ...
References
External links
IMDb Page Of Frederick Leonard
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Frederick
Living people
21st-century Nigerian male actors
1976 births
Igbo male actors
Nigerian male film actors
Nigerian male television actors
Male actors from Anambra State
Kaduna Polytechnic alumni