Veteran Nigerian Actor Pete Edochie Quashes Death Rumours, Says “I’m Very Much Alive”
The Nollywood veteran dismisses online death claims, reassuring fans he is in good health and preparing to celebrate his 79th birthday.
- Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has denied recent online rumours claiming he is dead
- Edochie revealed that false death reports have followed him for years, citing multiple past incidents
- The actor remains active and healthy, attributing his longevity to family history and divine protection
Veteran Nigerian actor Pete Edochie has dismissed circulating reports claiming he is dead, calling the rumours false and recurring.
The 78-year-old actor spoke out after online posts suggested he had been rushed to the hospital and passed away, with some reports even attributing confirmation to his son, Uche Edochie, on social media.
In a phone interview with Vanguard, Pete Edochie assured fans that he is in good health.
“I’m alive and will die when my maker calls me home,” he said.
Edochie noted that false death claims have followed him for years, forcing him to repeatedly address the situation.
“I have been ‘killed’ about seven times. At one point, they said I died abroad. Another time, they claimed the plane I boarded from Enugu to Ethiopia crashed and I didn’t survive. My wife even received a call from someone claiming I had passed away one morning before church. Just last year, someone in Ghana alleged that I was already in the grave,” he revealed.
The actor reflected on a lesson from the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, saying: “He told me that anyone wishing you death will die before you. All those who wished Zik harm died before him. That is what I have held on to. On March 7, I will turn 79, and longevity runs in my family—my father lived to 96.”
Pete Edochie is celebrated for his iconic roles in Nollywood classics, particularly his portrayal of Ebubedike, which cemented his reputation as one of the industry’s most recognisable faces. Over decades, he has received numerous honours, including the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award and the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards Industry Merit Award.
Why Celebrity Death Rumours Spread
False celebrity death reports have become a familiar trend on Nigerian social media, often spreading rapidly before verification. A single post claiming a public figure has died can trigger hundreds of reactions from prayers and tributes to debates and corrections amplifying the rumour across timelines.
Other Nigerian icons, including actor Olu Jacobs and music legend King Sunny Ade, have faced similar hoaxes. Sunny Ade once addressed such claims, saying:
“Don’t mind them. But they can’t kill me. God will not allow anything to happen to me. I performed at Tunji Braithwaite’s burial on Saturday night and just came from Oba Awujale’s palace in Ijebu Ode. I am very healthy,” he said.
