Alexx Ekubo: The untold story of Nollywood star’s 2-year battle with Stage 4 cancer

THE glitz and glamour of the Nigerian film industry were on Wednesday replaced by a somber reality as the veil was lifted on the private agony of Nollywood heartthrob, Alexx Ekubo, who succumbed to a protracted battle with stage 4 liver cancer.

While the public celebrated his previous screen successes, the actor was reportedly living a double life—one of professional excellence and another of intense medical warfare. Details emerging following his demise on Tuesday suggest that Ekubo’s struggle began as far back as 2024, when he received the devastating diagnosis that would eventually claim his life at the age of 40.

A close associate and filmmaker, Stanley Ontop, who broke the silence on the actor’s health journey, revealed that the battle was fought with immense grit. In a high-stakes attempt to reclaim his health, the “Johnny” star underwent a liver transplant. Though the procedure offered a glimmer of hope and allowed him a brief, final return to the movie sets he loved, the reprieve was short-lived.

“He fought a silent war,” a source close to the industry noted. “While fans were asking why he had become less active on social media and why he seemed to have withdrawn from the social scene, Alexx was in and out of hospitals, managing a condition that was rapidly deteriorating.”

According to reports, the transplanted organ eventually failed, leading to unavoidable complications. Despite seeking the best medical interventions, the actor’s condition reached a terminal stage earlier this week at a Lagos-based facility.

Further adding to the emotional weight of the tragedy, colleagues disclosed that the actor appeared to have anticipated the inevitable. Fellow actor Godwin Nnadiekwe hinted that Ekubo had meticulously put his affairs in order, including the preparation of his Will, months before the end came.

The revelation has sent a wave of shock through the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and the wider entertainment community. Tributes have continued to pour in for the man who rose to fame as the first runner-up of the 2010 Mr. Nigeria contest and became a household name for his versatility.

As his remains are prepared for the final rites, the story of Alexx Ekubo’s final two years stands as a testament to his resilience—a star who continued to shine for his audience while navigating a dark and painful medical journey in absolute silence.