{{Short description|Nigerian actor and director (born 1976)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Femi Adebayo | image = Portrait of Adebayo.jpg | caption = Portrait of Femi Adebayo | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|12|31|df=y}} | birth_place = Ilorin, Kwara State | native_name = {{nobold|Fẹ́mi Adébáyọ̀}} | native_name_lang = yoruba | other_names = Jelili, Sonto Alapata, Ogundiji | citizenship = Nigeria | alma_mater = {{plainlist| * University of Ibadan * University of Ilorin }} | occupation = {{flatlist| *Actor *Director *Producer *Politician *Lawyer }} | children = 4 | father = Adebayo Salami | relatives = Tope Adebayo <br /> Sodiq Adebayo | years_active = 1985–present | known_for = | spouse = Omotayo Adebayo | website = | footnotes = <ref name=Olaope>{{Cite news|title=How Femi Adebayo reframes Nollywood|url= https://thesun.ng/how-femi-adebayo-reframes-nollywood/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|date=6 December 2025|first=Yinusa|last=Olaope|newspaper=The Sun|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref> }}
'''Femi Adebayo''' {{Audio|LL-Q34311 (yor)-Tunmise123-Femi Adebayo.wav|Listen|help=no}}(born 31 December 1976) is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, director, and lawyer. He is known for his work in Yoruba-language cinema and for directing commercially successful films such as ''King of Thieves'' (2022), ''Jagun Jagun'' (2023), and ''Seven Doors'' (2024).
In 2024, he won the Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for ''Jagun Jagun'', also won the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards' Best Lead Actor for his performance in ''Seven Doors'' in 2025.
He has appeared in more than 500 films and has been active in the Nigerian film industry since the 1990s.
==Early life and education== Femi Adebayo was born on 31 December 1976 in Ilorin, Kwara State to Adebayo Salami and Alhaja Risikat Ejide.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 January 2025|first= Yewande|last=Fasan|title=Femi Adebayo celebrates mother's birthday with heartfelt tribute|url= https://thenationonlineng.net/femi-adebayo-celebrates-mothers-birthday-with-heartfelt-tribute/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=13 December 2025|newspaper=The Nation}}</ref><ref name=Olaope/> He attended C&S College before transferring to Oke Ode Grammar School, where he served as Head Boy and completed his secondary education in 1994.<ref name=Olaope/> He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) from the University of Ilorin in 2002 and attended the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003. He later completed a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree at the University of Ibadan in 2008.<ref name=Olaope/>
==Career== thumb|left|Portrait of Femi Adebayo
Adebayo made his acting debut in the Yoruba-language film ''Owo Blow'' in the 1990s, which brought him early recognition. He subsequently became a prominent figure in Yoruba cinema, appearing in over 500 films, including ''Ile Alayo'', ''Jelili'', and ''Survival of Jelili''.<ref name=Olaope/>
Beyond acting, Adebayo expanded into film production and directing. In 2008, he founded J15 Media Network and the J15 School of Performing Arts, which has trained hundreds of aspiring actors and filmmakers for the Nigerian film industry.<ref name=GuardianCareer>{{Cite news |title=Femi Adebayo is reinventing Nollywood one epic at a time |url=https://guardian.ng/art/femi-adebayo-is-reinventing-nollywood-one-epic-at-a-time/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=12 December 2025}}</ref>
In 2021, he established Euphoria360 Media, a production company responsible for several large-scale Yoruba-language productions, including ''King of Thieves (Agesinkole)'', ''Jagun Jagun'', and ''Seven Doors''.<ref name=GuardianCareer/>
''King of Thieves (Agesinkole)'', released in 2022, was produced by Adebayo through Euphoria360 Media in collaboration with Anthill Studios. The film became one of the highest-grossing Yoruba-language films in Nigerian cinema history, earning over ₦320 million at the box office.<ref name=GuardianCareer/>
In 2023, Adebayo produced the Netflix Original epic ''Jagun Jagun'', directed by Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani. The film ranked among Netflix’s top ten non-English films globally and received multiple nominations across major Nigerian award platforms, including the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, Africa Movie Academy Awards, and Best of Nollywood Awards.<ref name=GuardianCareer/>
His 2024 Netflix mini-series ''Seven Doors'' debuted at number one on Netflix Nigeria and remained in that position for several weeks. Adebayo’s performance earned him the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for Best Lead Actor.<ref name=GuardianCareer/><ref>{{Cite news |first=Oluyemi |last=Ogunseyin |title=Seven Doors wins big at 2025 AMVCA, secures three major awards |url=https://guardian.ng/life/events/seven-doors-wins-big-at-2025-amvca-secures-three-major-awards/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 May 2025 |access-date=12 December 2025}}</ref>
Adebayo’s films are frequently noted for their emphasis on Yoruba culture, language, costume, and mythology, combining traditional themes with contemporary cinematic techniques.<ref name=GuardianCareer/><ref name=Olaope/>
From 2016 to 2019, Adebayo served as Special Adviser on Arts, Culture, and Tourism to the Governor of Kwara State. In this role, he worked on initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural tourism and promoting the creative economy in the state.<ref name=Olaope/>
Adebayo has signed endorsement deals with several brands, including Samsung, Trophy, Trumpy, VG Pensions, Kpearl, and Modara. He has also participated in advertising campaigns for Coca-Cola and Peak, and previously served as a brand ambassador for StarTimes.<ref name=Olaope/><ref name=GuardianCareer/>
== Personal life == Adebayo married Omotayo Adebayo on 9 October 2016. Adebayo and his wife have one son. He also has three children from an earlier marriage.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ayodele|first1=Johnson|title=Actor and wife are not separated according to this video|url=https://pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/femi-adebayo-and-wife-are-not-separated-according-to-a-video-id7555573.html|website=Pulse Nigeria|publisher=Pulse Africa|date=4 November 2017|access-date=12 April 2022|archive-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712052005/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/femi-adebayo-and-wife-are-not-separated-according-to-a-video-id7555573.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Awards and honours == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref |- |2009 | rowspan= |Africa Movie Academy Awards |Best Actor in a Supporting Role |''Apaadi'' |{{nom}} | |- |2015 | rowspan="2" |City People Entertainment Awards |Best Movie Producer Of The Year (Yoruba) | |{{won}} | |- | rowspan="2" |2017 |Best Actor Of The Year (Yoruba) | |{{won}} | |- |Best of Nollywood Awards |Best Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba |''Afaila Ojo'' |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 November 2017|title=BON Awards 2017: Kannywood's Ali Nuhu receives Special Recognition Award|url=https://dailytrust.com/bon-awards-2017-kannywood-s-ali-nuhu-receives-special-recognition-award|access-date=7 October 2021|newspaper=Daily Trust|language=en}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2018 |Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards |Best Indigenous Movie (Yoruba) | rowspan="2" |''Etiko Onigedu'' |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 September 2018|title=AMVCA 2018: Full list of winners|url=https://punchng.com/amvca-2018-full-list-of-winners/|access-date=13 June 2021|newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4" |Best of Nollywood Awards |Best Actor in a Lead role –Yoruba |{{won}} |<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Augoye|first=Jayne|date=10 December 2018|title=BON Awards 2018: Tope Oshin, Tana Adelana win big|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/300174-bon-awards-2018-tope-oshin-tana-adelana-win-big.html|access-date=9 October 2021|language=en-GB|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2019 |Best Kiss in a Movie |''Diamond in the Sky'' |{{nom}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bada|first=Gbenga|date=15 December 2019|title=BON Awards 2019: 'Gold Statue', Gabriel Afolayan win big at 11th edition|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/bon-awards-2019-gold-statue-gabriel-afolayan-win-big-at-11th-edition/4d0w2n4|access-date=10 October 2021|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) |''The Return of Kesari'' |{{nom}} |- |2020 |''Lucifer'' |{{won}} |<ref>{{Cite news|last=Augoye|first=Jayne|date=7 December 2020|title=BON Awards: Laura Fidel, Kunle Remi win Best Kiss (Full List of Winners)|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/429916-bon-awards-laura-fidel-kunle-remi-win-best-kiss-full-list-of-winners.html|access-date=13 June 2021|language=en-GB|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> |- |2022 |Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |Best Actor in A Comedy |''Progressive Tailors Club'' |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite news |title=2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list |work=BBC News Pidgin |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-60818021 |access-date=26 March 2022}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" |2023 | rowspan="2" |Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |Best Actor In A Drama, Movie Or TV Series | rowspan="2" |''King of Thieves'' |{{Nom}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees |url=https://dstv-fe-africamagic-prod.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/amvca/season/9/news/full-list-here-are-all-our-amvca-9-nominees/news |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=AMVCA - Full List: Here are all our AMVCA 9 Nominees |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Peaceman 2023">{{Cite news | last=Peaceman | first=Pandora | title=AMCVA 2023: Femi Adebayo Bags 8 Nominations On 'King Of Thieves' |newspaper=New Telegraph| date=2023-04-17 | url=https://newtelegraphng.com/amcva-2023-femi-adebayo-bags-8-nominations-on-king-of-thieves/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| access-date=2023-06-05}}</ref> |- |Best Overall Movie |{{Nom}} |- |Africa International Film Festival |Globe Award Honoree |''Jagun Jagun'' |{{won}} | |- |rowspan=3|2024 |2024 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |Best Indigenous Language Movie- West Africa |rowspan=3|''Jagun Jagun'' |{{won}} | |- |Africa Movie Academy Awards |Best Actor in a Supporting Role |{{won}} | |- |Abuja International Film Festival |Outstanding Male Actor |{{won}} | |- |2025 |Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |Best Lead Actor |''Seven Doors'' |{{won}} |<ref name="o271">{{Cite news | last=Oyediran | first=Tosin | title=FULL LIST: Femi Adebayo's Seven Doors scores big at #AMVCA11, wins best lead actor, actress |newspaper=The Punch| date=11 May 2025 | url=https://punchng.com/full-list-femi-adebayos-seven-doors-scores-big-at-amvca11-wins-best-lead-actor-actress/ | access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref> |- |}
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Film !Role |- |2025 |''Labake Olododo'' | |- | rowspan="7" |2024 |''Lisabi: The Uprising'' |Olu Olodan |- |''Seven Doors'' |king Adedunjoye |- |''Beast of Two Worlds'' |Ade Apa Igala |- |''Queen Lateefah'' | |- |''Lakatabu'' |Muyiwa |- |''Crossroads'' |Egunkemi |- |''House of Ga'a'' |Olukuoye |- | rowspan="5" |2023 |''Ijogbon'' |Head of Amoteku |- |''Mikolo'' |Babablu |- |''Jagun Jagun'' |Ogundiji |- |''World Famous'' |Pastor |- |''Diety'' |Komokomo |- | rowspan="2" |2022 |''Maleeka'' |Kunle |- |''King of Thieves'' |Adeshikoye/Adeoye |- | rowspan="8" |2021 |''cordelia'' |Rasaki |- |''Ile Alayo'' | |- |''Ete'' |Deji |- |''Love Castle'' |Chief Balogun |- |''Progressive Tailors Club'' |Agbabiaka |- |''The Cokers'' |Doctor |- |''Charge and Bail'' |Whole Adetutu |- |''Charlie Charlie'' | |- | rowspan="4" |2020 |''The Miracle Centre'' | |- |''Special Jollof'' | |- |''Unroyal'' |Royal Suitor |- |''Mama Drama'' |Dotun |- | rowspan="4" |2019 |''Jumbled'' |Yinka |- |''Survival of Jelili'' |Jelili |- |''Diamonds in the Sky'' |Kayode |- |''Mokalik'' |Mr. Ogidan |- | rowspan="3" |2018 |''The Island'' |kola |- |''The Ghost and the Tout'' |Dayo |- |''Heaven on My Mind'' |Soji |- |2017 |''Sola Arikusa'' | |- |2014 |''October 1'' |Banji |- |2013 |''Ayitale'' |Aderopo |- |2011 |''Jelili'' |Jelili |- |2009 |''Apaadi'' | |- |1996 |''Owo Blow'' |Wole Owolabi |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
== External links == * {{Twitter|adebayo_femi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adebayo, Femi}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Yoruba male actors Category:Nigerian male film actors Category:Male actors from Lagos Category:Male actors in Yoruba cinema Category:University of Ilorin alumni Category:20th-century Nigerian male actors Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors Category:University of Ibadan alumni Category:Nigerian film directors Category:Actors from Kwara State Category:Nigerian film producers Category:Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards winners