{{Short description|Nigerian actor (1965–2023)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Obinna Nwafor | image = Saint-Obi_resize.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1965|11|16}} | birth_place = Port Harcourt, Nigeria | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2023|05|07|1965|11|16}} | death_place = Jos (undisclosed) | alma_mater = University of Jos | years_active = 1996—2023 | known_for = {{bulleted list |''Candle Light'' |''Take me to Maama'' |''Sakobi'' |''Goodbye Tomorrow'' |''Heart of Gold'' |''Festival of Fire'' |''Executive Crime'' |''Last Party'' |''State of Emergency''}} | spouse = Linda Nwafor }}
'''Obinna Nwafor''' ({{Audio|Ig-Saint Obi.ogg|listen|help=no}} 16 November 1965 – 7 May 2023), better known by his stage name '''Saint Obi''', was a Nigerian actor,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adebayo |first=Tireni |date=24 February 2022 |title=Actor Saint Obi battles wife in court over custody of their kids |url=https://www.kemifilani.ng/entertainment/actor-saint-obi-battles-wife-in-court-over-custody-of-their-kids |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=Kemi Filani News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ukonu |first=Ivory |last2=THEWILL |date=25 February 2022 |title=Veteran Actor Saint Obi In Messy Divorce Drama With Estranged Wife |url=https://thewillnigeria.com/news/veteran-actor-saint-obi-in-messy-divorce-drama-with-estranged-wife/ |access-date=23 November 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> film producer and director.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/arts-life/saint-obis-night-of-double-treats/ | title=Saint Obi's night of double treats | access-date=21 August 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826133749/http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/arts-life/saint-obis-night-of-double-treats/ | archive-date=26 August 2014 | df= |newspaper=The Punch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.punchng.com/feature/midweek-revue/saint-obi-out-with-new-awards/ | title=Saint Obi out with new awards | access-date=21 August 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113700/http://www.punchng.com/feature/midweek-revue/saint-obi-out-with-new-awards/ | archive-date=26 August 2014 | df= |newspaper=The Punch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.2shymusic.com/2014/01/nollywood-actor-saint-obi-reveals-why.html?m=0 | title=Nollywood Actor Saint Obi Reveals why he stopped acting! | publisher=2shymusic.com | accessdate=21 August 2014 | archive-date=9 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809104916/http://www.2shymusic.com/2014/01/nollywood-actor-saint-obi-reveals-why.html?m=0 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Education== Obi was born on 16 November 1965.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nigerianfinder.com/saint-obi-biography-career-movies-more/|title=Saint Obi: Biography, Career, Movies & More|last=NF|language=en-US|access-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> He earned his Bachelor of Science in theatre arts at the University of Jos.<ref name="Vanguard News 2023">{{Cite news | title=Life and Times of Saint Obi |newspaper=Vanguard| date=2023-05-14 | url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/life-and-times-of-saint-obi/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| access-date=2023-06-02}}</ref>
== Career == His first acting job was in 1996 via a Peugeot television commercial. He would later star in over 60 movies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Over 500 million watch Nollywood, says Saint Obi |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/08/over-500-million-watch-nollywood-says-saint-obi/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=23 April 2011 |newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> In 2002, Obi produced his first movie, ''Take Me to Maama'', where he starred as Jerry, alongside Ebi Sam, Rachel Oniga, Nse Abel and Enebeli Elebuwa. He was popular for roles in ''Candle Light'', ''Goodbye Tomorrow'', ''Heart of Gold'', and other films.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 14, 2023 |title=Life and Times of Saint Obi |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/life-and-times-of-saint-obi/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> He is the founder and CEO of Agwhyte International limited, a production, talent and brand management firm based in Nigeria and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=gist |first=lovers |date=May 13, 2023 |title=How did Saint Obi die |url=https://www.gistlover.com/how-did-saint-obi-died-saint-obi-biography-wife-divorce-age-children/ |website=Gist Lovers}}</ref>
== Personal life == Obi was married to Lydia Saint Nwafor. She is an MTN top staff from Anambra State. They have three children together. Their marriage ended in 2021 after 15 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovers |first=Gist |date=2023-05-13 |title=How Did Saint Obi Died, Saint Obi biography, Wife, Divorce, Age, Children |url=https://www.gistlover.com/how-did-saint-obi-died-saint-obi-biography-wife-divorce-age-children/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Gistlover |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Obi biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/people/15956/saint-obi |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}</ref>
== Awards == *Best Actor in Africa at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Obi biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/people/15956/saint-obi |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}</ref> *Most Prominent Actor in Nigeria at the City People Entertainment Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Obi biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/people/15956/saint-obi |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}</ref> *Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Nollywood movie awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Obi biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/people/15956/saint-obi |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}</ref>
== Death == Obi died on 7 May 2023 at the age of 57, in a sibling's house. He had battled a protracted illness.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 14, 2023 |title=Life and Times of Saint |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/life-and-times-of-saint-obi/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref><ref>[https://dailypost.ng/2023/05/13/veteran-nolywood-actor-saint-obi-dies-at-57/ Veteran Nolywood actor, Saint Obi dies at 57]</ref>
==Selected filmography == Obi is known for his roles in: * ''Domitilla'' (1996)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Obi {{!}} Actor, Director |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1228475/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> as Harrison * ''Candle Light'' (1998) * ''Dirty Game'' (1998) * ''Heartless'' (1998) as Marshal * ''Sakobi: The Snake Girl'' (1998) as Frank Davies * ''Oracle'' (1998) * ''Deadly Proposal'' (1998) * ''Narrow Escape'' (1999) as Emmanuel 3 * ''State of Emergency'' (2000) as Smith * ''Executive Crime'' (2000) as Christopher * ''Final Whistle'' (2000) as Richard * ''Jungle Justice'' (2000) as Alfred * ''Festival of Fire'' (2002) * ''Take me to Maama'' (2002) * ''More Than a Woman'' (2004) as Daniel * ''Sensational Spy'' (2004) as Craig * ''Golden Moon'' (2005) as Amadi * ''Royal Palace'' (2005) * ''Breath Again'' (2006) as Joe * ''Crime Planner'' (2006) as Onuwa * ''Greatest Weapon'' (2006) as Ejike * ''Crying Angel''
==See also== * List of Nigerian film producers
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1228475|Saint Obi}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obi, Saint}} Category:1965 births Category:2023 deaths Category:Nigerian male film actors Category:Nigerian film directors Category:Nigerian film producers Category:Male actors from Port Harcourt Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors Category:University of Jos alumni Category:20th-century Nigerian male actors Category:Igbo actors
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