Veteran Nollywood actor, Lari Williams, has died at the age of 81 after a long illness.
Williams, who was famous for his roles in popular soap operas like the Village Headmaster, Ripples, and Mirror in The Sun, died on Sunday at his home in Ikom, Cross River State.
Williams was a poet, playwright and celebrated actor in live theatre and on screen, earning him a prestigious national honour; Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2008.
Lari was the first president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria and had a career that spanned over fifty years.
Lari Williams who studied Journalism at the London School of Journalism, proceeded to study English at Morley College and then drama at the Mountview Theatre School and Stratford E15 Acting School, England.
Meanwhile, the Actors Guild of Nigeria has commiserated with the family Lari Williams.
The guild in a statement by its Communication Director, Monalisa Chinda, said the late actor’s death is a big loss to Africa’s creative industry.