Richard Evans Eyimofe Damijo a.k.a. Richard Mofe-Damijo or RMD for short was at the recent Headies at which he presented one of the awards in his usual entertaining way. He came dressed to kill, he danced, talked in his commanding and arresting voice, did his thing and left the stage.
The stage he cannot and will never leave is that of his glamorous life. Born on July 6 in 1961 at Aladja Community of Udu Kingdom, Warri, Delta State, he has always lived life in the leading role. An example is his Best Actor in a Leading Role award which he won at the first ever Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in 2005. In fact, his very first role in a drama production at the University of Benin was a leading role. And when, fresh from the theatre, television screens and the big screen he served as commissioner for culture and tourism in Delta State, it was a leading role of a sort. He had, after all, always been a leader doing exploits even in journalism before crossing over to television with his role in the Ripples soap opera. But it was in Checkmate from the now late Amaka Igwe stables that he truly got his groove. Here was a soap that didn’t just pitch good talent together it also travelled the world giving a glimpse into the wonders that could be wrought in the country.
The lawyer, philanthropist, husband, father and grandfather has since appeared in more than 200 Nollywood movies including Out of Bounds (which he wrote and produced), Hostages, Scores to Settle, Diamond Ring, The Messenger, and the recent Oloibiri. His recent project The Mr. X Family, which premiered this may on DStv takes him back to his soap opera days alongside his long term screen partner, Ego Boyo.
Two years ago, AMAA recognised him with a Lifetime Achievement. For someone who has always led, this is a well deserved award. And he has lived most of his adult live in Lagos, making him a Lagos big boy.
Bet you didn’t know that he protested vehemently his leading role in the university drama given to him when he had barely settle down as a freshman.