Nollywood has been thrown into mourning following the death of fast-rising actor Chijioke Temidayo Nwokafor, popularly known as Cjay Nooks, just hours before the premiere of a movie in which he played the lead role.
Cjay died on Wednesday, September 30, at a medical facility in the Bad-ore area of Lagos State.
Actress and filmmaker Nkechi Blessing Sunday announced his death in an emotional social media video recorded at the hospital.
The actress said she had spoken with Cjay at about 8 a.m. on the day of his death, only to receive news of his passing a few hours later.
The circumstances surrounding his death have not been fully disclosed. His family and colleagues had also not announced funeral arrangements as of Thursday.
C jay’s death came on the same day his latest movie, Egusi Ogbono, was scheduled for release at 5 p.m.
The film was produced by Nkechi Blessing, with Cjay playing the lead role.
Following the news of his death, Blessing announced that the movie would no longer be released as scheduled.
She described the development as difficult to process, saying she had spoken with the actor only hours earlier.
The postponement added another layer of grief to an already tragic day for the actress and the cast and crew behind the project.
Cjay, whose full name was Chijioke Temidayo Nwokafor, hailed from Awka, Anambra State, and was based in Lagos.
He began his professional acting career in 2021 and gradually built a portfolio of roles in Nollywood productions.
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His reported film credits include Larry Cold, Mum Overnight, A Day To My Wedding, The Lies She Tell, What Time Left, Sent from Heaven, Insecure, Godly Escort and My House Keeper.
The actor also spoke about his journey into Nollywood shortly before his death.
In a September 21 interview with Trybe TV, Cjay recalled an early experience working as an extra on a film set with filmmaker Ruth Kadiri.
He said watching the actors and observing how they carried themselves on set influenced his decision to pursue acting professionally.
C jay’s death has triggered tributes from colleagues and other members of the entertainment industry.
Ruth Kadiri shared a tribute to the actor, while Charles Born expressed shock over his death, saying he had planned to visit Cjay at the hospital.
Actor Emeka Nwagbaraocha also mourned Cjay, describing him as a “sweet soul” and expressing disbelief that they were now speaking about him in the past tense.
Actor Emeka Okoye also paid tribute to Cjay, highlighting a lesser-known side of the late actor.
Okoye described him as a talented baker who used the skill to help other people and support charitable efforts.
He also recalled C jay’s generosity and the relationships he built with people around him.
Some of C jay’s recent social media posts have attracted renewed attention following his death.
In one Instagram post, he wrote about living without pressure, while another carried a message encouraging people to make the most of life.
The cause of C jay’s death has not been officially disclosed by his family, medical authorities or his representatives.
Crediblenewsng.com
