{{Short description|Nigerian actor}} {{Infobox person | name = Joseph Benjamin | image = Joseph Benjamin (cropped).png | caption = Joseph Benjamin in 2008 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|11|9}} | birth_place = Lagos State, Nigeria | occupation = Actor, model, TV presenter, voice-over artist, singer | years_active = 1995–present | known_for = Co-hosting MTN's Project Fame | notable_works = Tango with Me | awards = 2012 Best of Nollywood Awards for Best Lead Actor }} '''Joseph Benjamin''' {{Audio|Yo-Joseph Benjamin.ogg|listen|help=no}} (born 9 November 1977) is a Nigerian actor, model, singer, Voice-over Artist and television presenter<ref>{{cite web |last=Adebayo |first=Tireni |date=2013-12-29 |title=Happy Dad, happy kids! Meet Joseph Benjamin's adorable kids |url=https://www.kemifilani.ng/news/happy-dad-happy-kids-meet-josep |access-date=2022-03-12 |website=Kemi Filani News |language=en-GB}}</ref> mainly known for co-hosting MTN's ''Project Fame'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-18 |title=Joseph Benjamin: Flip side of a talented actor |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/joseph-benjamin-flip-side-of-a-talented-actor/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-07-17 |newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref> a talent reality show, and starring in the movies ''Tango With Me'', ''Mr. and Mrs.'', and ''Murder at Prime Suites''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2012/01/21/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-from-tv-to-the-big-screen-meet-nigerias-new-heartthrob-joseph-benjamin/ |title=BN Saturday Celebrity Interview: From TV to the Big Screen, Meet Nigeria's New Heartthrob Joseph Benjamin |publisher=Bella Naija |date=21 January 2012 |accessdate=2 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="afrinolly1">{{cite web |url=http://m.afrinolly.com/movieActors.php?movieCelebDetails=43 |title=Joseph Benjamin |publisher=M.afrinolly.com |date= |accessdate=2 January 2014 |archive-date=2 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192011/http://m.afrinolly.com/movieActors.php?movieCelebDetails=43 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He won the African Actor of the Year award at the 2012 African Film Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.informationng.com/2012/11/joseph-benjamin-wins-african-actor-of-the-year-at-17th-afro-hollywood-awards.html|title = Joseph Benjamin Wins African Actor of the Year at 17th Afro-Hollywood Awards|date = 4 November 2012}}</ref> He won "Best Lead Actor in an English film" for his role on Married but Living Single at the 2012 Best of Nollywood Awards.
==Personal life== Joseph was born on 9 November 1977, to a Kogi State indigene father and an Anambra State mother. Joseph Benjamin completed his primary school education in Benue State in the north-central part of Nigeria. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate, after which he completed his secondary school education in Lagos State in the south-western part of Nigeria and obtained his West African Senior School Certificate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zimbio.com/Nigeria+Today/articles/rgG7KZDi-yQ/Nollywood+actor+Joseph+Benjamin+opens+up+separation |title=Nollywood actor Joseph Benjamin opens up on separation from wife – Nigeria Today |publisher=Zimbio |accessdate=21 April 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102230754/http://m.zimbio.com/Nigeria%2BToday/articles/rgG7KZDi-yQ/Nollywood%2Bactor%2BJoseph%2BBenjamin%2Bopens%2Bup%2Bseparation |archivedate= 2 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Joseph relocated to the United States in 2016, where he currently resides.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joseph Benjamin resurfaces in America as singer |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/joseph-benjamin-resurfaces-in-america-as-singer/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=13 August 2021 |date=24 October 2020|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> He identifies as a born-again Christian.<ref>{{cite news |title=Upclose: Actor Joseph Benjamin Is On A Mission! Gives Reason Behind "JOY" & Reveals Title Of Upcoming EP |url=https://selahafrik.com/2016/12/upclose-joseph-benjamin-reason-joy/ |access-date=13 August 2021 |work=SelahAfrik |date=8 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="guardian1">{{Cite news |date=2021-09-18 |title=Joseph Benjamin: Flip side of a talented actor |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/joseph-benjamin-flip-side-of-a-talented-actor/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2022-11-17 |newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career==
=== Early career ===
Joseph made his movie debut in ''Crossroads'', in 1995 (alongside Ramsey Nouah and Sandra Achums); however, his screen debut was earlier, when he appeared at age 12 in the television program ''Tales by Moonlight'' on NTA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.informafrica.com/entertainment-africa/profile-joseph-benjamin-biography-nigerian-actor/ |title=NOLLYWOOD: Joseph Benjamin Biography (Nigerian Actor) |publisher=InformAfrica.com |date=22 November 2012 |accessdate=2 January 2014 |archive-date=2 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192326/http://www.informafrica.com/entertainment-africa/profile-joseph-benjamin-biography-nigerian-actor/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== Nolly breakthrough and TV personality ===
Since his on-screen debut in ''Tales by Moonlight,'' Benjamin has starred in several television series, including ''Edge of Paradise'', in which he was being "crushed on" by his neighbor's daughter, and ''Super Story''. His definite breakthrough in film came in the early 2010s, with roles in romantic-themed films such as ''Kiss and Tell'', ''Tango With Me'', which was nominated for five Africa Movie Awards, and ''Married but Living Single.'' He broke typecasting in 2013 by playing a detective in the crime thriller ''Murder at Prime Suites'' (MAPS), which was inspired by an actual murder case in Lagos, in which a woman first met her killer on Facebook.<ref name="afrinolly1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2012/01/21/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-from-tv-to-the-big-screen-meet-nigerias-new-heartthrob-joseph-benjamin |title=BN Saturday Celebrity Interview: From TV to the Big Screen, Meet Nigeria's New Heartthrob Joseph Benjamin |publisher=Bella Naija |date=21 January 2012 |accessdate=2 January 2014}}</ref><ref name="Adeyemo 2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2012/01/21/bn-saturday-celebrity-interview-from-tv-to-the-big-screen-meet-nigerias-new-heartthrob-joseph-benjamin/|title=BN Saturday Celebrity Interview: From TV to the Big Screen, Meet Nigeria's New Heartthrob Joseph Benjamin|last=Adeyemo|first=Adeola|date=21 January 2012|publisher=Bella Naija|accessdate=21 April 2014}}</ref> Shortly after completing MAPS, Benjamin joined the cast of Desperate Housewives Africa, the Nigerian remake of the American hit series, playing the role of Chuka Obi(Carlos Solis), alongside Kehinde Bankole.<ref>{{cite news |title=Desperate Housewives Africa: Michelle Dede, Kehinde Bankole, Dolapo Oni, Linda Osifo; Meet The Cast |url=https://olorisupergal.com/2015/04/29/desperate-housewives-africa-michelle-dede-kehinde-bankole-dolapo-oni-linda-osifo-meet-the-cast |access-date=4 October 2021 |work=Olori Supergal |date=29 April 2015 |archive-date=4 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004141255/https://olorisupergal.com/2015/04/29/desperate-housewives-africa-michelle-dede-kehinde-bankole-dolapo-oni-linda-osifo-meet-the-cast/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He co-hosted, with Adaora Oleh, MTN ''Project Fame West Africa'' between 2009 and 2016, and has appeared in TV and radio commercials.
===Singer===
Having sung in a choir since his early twenties, Joseph launched a career in professional singing in 2012, collaborating with singer Sabina on the album ''Merry Christmas'' that year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gists |first=Naija |url=https://naijagists.com/nigerian-actor-joseph-benjamin-turns-singer-now-a-musician/ |title=Nigerian Actor Joseph Benjamin Turns Singer, First Album At Studio Level – NaijaGists.com – Proudly Nigerian DIY Motivation & Information Blog |publisher=NaijaGists.com |date=2013-03-20 |accessdate=2022-11-19}}</ref> A devout Christian, he has since specialized in the gospel and inspirational genre with the singles ''Joy'' in 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://selahafrik.com/2016/12/upclose-joseph-benjamin-reason-joy/|title=Upclose: Actor Joseph Benjamin is on a Mission! Gives Reason Behind "JOY" & Reveals Title of Upcoming EP|date=8 December 2016}}</ref> and ''I Pour My Love'' in 2020. He has stated that he considers himself a musician first and foremost.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://9ja.com/joseph-benjamin-resurfaces-in-america-as-singer-10750.html|title = Joseph Benjamin resurfaces in America as singer}}</ref> He recently dropped single, and he is working on releasing an EP in 2022.<ref name="guardian1"/>
==Filmography== ===Films=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- |1991 || Cross Roads || || |- |2003 || Deadly Misson || Dotun || |- | 2009 || ''Jungle Ride'' || Akin || |- | 2009 || ''Spellbound'' || || |- | 2010 || ''Kiss and Tell'' || Iyke || with Monalisa Chinda, Desmond Elliot & Nse Ikpe Etim |- | 2010 || ''Kidnap'' || || |- | 2010 || ''Tango with Me'' || Uzo || |- | 2011 || ''Mr. and Mrs.'' || Ken Abbah || with Nse Ikpe Etim & Barbara Soky |- | 2011 || ''Courier'' || || |- | 2012 || ''Married but Living Single'' || Mike || with Funke Akindele & Joke Silva |- | 2012 || ''Stripped'' || Coco Simba||With Ramsey Nouah, Beverly Naya, |- | 2012 || ''Torn'' || ||With Julius Agwu, Monalisa Chinda |- | 2012 || ''Unfair'' || || |- | 2012 || ''Darkside'' || || |- | 2012 || ''Faith'' || || |- | 2012 || ''Contract'' || Kuuku||With Doris Ansah, Jasmine Baroudi, Katouchka Addaquay |- | 2013 || ''Murder at Prime Suites'' || Agent Ted || |- | 2013 || ''First Cut'' || Kunle Lewis|| alongside Lisa Omorodion and Monalisa Chinda |- | 2014 || ''Mum, Dad, meet Sam'' || Josiah Abiola||With Daniella Down, Tino Orsini |- | 2014 || ''Few good Men'' || Fred||With Boma Adukeh, Otas Bazuaye |- | 2014 || ''Blind Promise'' || || |- | 2014 || ''Secret Box'' || || |- | 2014 || ''Iyore'' || Prince Eweka – Azuwa|| |- | 2014 || ''Folly'' || || |- 2014 || Affairs of the heart || | 2014 || ''A Few Good Men'' || Wale || Feature Film directed by Ejiro Onobrakpor and featuring Deyemi Okanlawon |- | 2015 || ''The Grave Dust'' || Jordan || with Ramsey Nouah & Joke Silva |- | 2015 || ''Omoge Ofege''<ref>{{cite web|title=Joseph Benjamin Nollywood actor stars in 1st Yoruba movie 'Omoge Ofege'|url=http://pulse.ng/movies/joseph-benjamin-nollywood-actor-stars-in-1st-yoruba-movie-omoge-ofege-id3895241.html|website=Pulse Nigeria|date=22 June 2015|publisher=Chidumga Izuzu|accessdate=22 June 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085009/http://pulse.ng/movies/joseph-benjamin-nollywood-actor-stars-in-1st-yoruba-movie-omoge-ofege-id3895241.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> || || with Femi Adebayo & Ireti Osayemi |- | 2016 || ''Rebecca'' || Clifford|| |- | 2017 || ''Isoken'' || Osaze || |- | 2017 || ''Affairs of the Heart'' || Eric || |- | 2020 || ''Special Jollof'' || ||with Uche Jumbo |- |2020 |''The Love Between Us'' |Desmond |with Raz Ayer, Ikenna Alily, Carl Allen Jr. |- |2021 |''Back to Kinship'' | |with Stanley Enow |- |2022 |''Stay'' |Tega |with Theo Bray |- |2023 |''The Bargain'' |Steve |with Greg Agalaba, Sira Bah |- |2025 |Baby Farm | |with Rita Dominic and Genoveva Umeh |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 2003 || ''Deadly Mission'' || || |- | 2005 || ''Just Me'' || Kayode|| |- | 2005 || ''Travails of Faith'' || Sam|| |- | 2005–2006 || ''Edge of Paradise'' || Michael||1 episode |- | 2005–2006 || ''Young, Single and free'' || || |- | 2007 || ''Super story'' || || |- | 2007 || ''Bachelors'' || || |- | 2007 || ''168 A love Story'' || || |- | 2008–2013|| ''Tinsel'' || Tega||212 episodes |- | 2015|| ''Desperate Housewives Africa'' ||Chuka Obi ||20 episodes |- |2015–2016 |''Losing Control'' |Kunle |39 episodes |- |2017 |''Claws'' |Relative |1 episode |- | 2019|| ''Greenleaf'' ||Joseph Obi ||2 episodes |- | 2019|| ''Last Call'' ||Charles O Marley ||1 episode |- |2022 || ''Atlanta (TV series)'' || Black Male Actor ||''Work Ethic!'' |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Result !Ref |- | rowspan="2" |2012 | rowspan="2" |Nollywood Movies Awards |Best Actor in a Leading Role (Kiss and Tell) |{{nom}} | |- |Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tango with Me) |{{Won}} | |- |2014 |Africa Movie Academy Award |Best Actor in a Leading Role (Murder at Prime Suites) |{{nom}} | |- |2015 |Golden Movie Awards |Golden Actor |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Movie Awards: Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations|url=http://1push.com.ng/golden-movie-awards-nadia-buari-joseph-benjamin-yvonne-nelson-others-get-nominations/|website=1Push Naija|publisher=Ogbodo|accessdate=23 May 2015|archive-date=27 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527205146/http://1push.com.ng/golden-movie-awards-nadia-buari-joseph-benjamin-yvonne-nelson-others-get-nominations/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Movie Awards: Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations|url=http://sturvs.com/306251/golden-movie-awards-nadia-buari-joseph-benjamin-yvonne-nelson-others-get-nominations/|website=Sturvs Nigeria|publisher=Sturvs|accessdate=23 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=23 May 2015|title=Nadia Buari, Joseph Benjamin, Yvonne Nelson, others get nominations|url=http://pulse.ng/movies/golden-movie-awards-nadia-buari-joseph-benjamin-yvonne-nelson-others-get-nominations-id3789316.html|website=Pulse Nigeria|publisher=Gbenga Bada|accessdate=23 May 2015|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701210343/http://www.pulse.ng/movies/golden-movie-awards-nadia-buari-joseph-benjamin-yvonne-nelson-others-get-nominations-id3789316.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |2017 |Best of Nollywood Awards |Best Actor in a Lead role – English (''Dance to My Beat'') |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-11-23|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=2021-10-07|newspaper=Daily Trust|language=en}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|3980475}}
{{Project Fame West Africa}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Joseph}} Category:1976 births Category:Male actors from Benue State Category:Living people Category:Nigerian male film actors Category:20th-century Nigerian male actors Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors Category:Nigerian male television actors Category:Male actors in Yoruba cinema Category:Nigerian male models Category:Nigerian male singers Category:Nigerian television presenters