{{Short description|Nigerian actor and filmmaker (born 1960)}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Zack Orji | birth_name = Zachee Ama Orji | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}} | birth_place = Libreville, Gabon | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = University of Nigeria Nsukka | occupation = Actor, director, producer | years_active = 1991—present | known_for = | notable_works = | spouse = Ngozi Orji | children = 3 }}
'''Zachee Ama Orji''' (born 1960) is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker, director, producer, theatre critic and preacher.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adebayo |first=Tireni |date=21 October 2017 |title=Veteran actor, Zack Orji reveals his battle with cigarettes and Indian hemp |url=https://www.kemifilani.ng/hot-news/veteran-actor-zack-orji-reveals-his |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=Kemi Filani News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="vanguardngr.com">{{Cite news |date=29 February 2020 |title=Zack Orji: My life as an actor, singer and preacher of God's word |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/zack-orji-my-life-as-an-actor-singer-and-preacher-of-gods-word/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria |access-date=18 July 2022 |newspaper=Vanguard |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 February 2020 |title=Zack Orji: My life as an actor, singer and preacher of God's word |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/zack-orji-my-life-as-an-actor-singer-and-preacher-of-gods-word/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria |access-date=25 July 2022 |newspaper=Vanguard |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Early life == Orji<ref>{{Cite web |title=Igbo Names |url=https://www.myigboname.com/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.myigboname.com |language=en}}</ref> was born in Libreville, Gabon, where his father worked.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thandiubani |date=2024-05-21 |title=I Am From Gabon, Not Nigeria - Zack Orji Reveals Real Identity (Video) |url=https://www.tori.ng/news/270739/i-am-from-gabon-not-nigeria-zack-orji-reveals-real.html |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Tori.ng |language=English}}</ref> He is an indigene of Amata Mgbowo in Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Zack Orji: Profile of Ace Nollywood Actor |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/03/10/zack-orji-profile-of-ace-nollywood-actor/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria |access-date=2024-12-04 |language=en-US |newspaper=P.M. News}}</ref> He grew up in Cameroon, Benin and Togo, where he became fluent in English and French.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FALED PRODUCTION LIMITED Zack Orji |url=http://www.faledproductionlimited.com/zack_orji.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220704/http://www.faledproductionlimited.com/zack_orji.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=3 January 2018 |website=www.faledproductionlimited.com}}</ref> He is the eldest of seven children, comprising five girls and two boys.<ref>{{Cite news |last=olukomaiya |first=funmilola |date=March 10, 2020 |title=Zack Orji: profile of ace nollywood actor |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/03/10/zack-orji-profile-of-ace-nollywood-actor/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=P.M. News}}</ref>
== Education == Orji graduated from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with a bachelor's degree in estate management.
== Career == In 1991, Orji made his film debut in ''Unforgiven Sin''. In an interview with ''Nollywood Post'', he shared how he got the lead role in the film without auditioning.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Streaming is the next level for Nollywood – Zack Orji |url=https://www.nollywoodpost.com/2020/10/18/zack-orji-streaming-is-the-next-level-for-nollywood/ |access-date=18 October 2019 |website=Nollywood Post |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019122304/https://www.nollywoodpost.com/2020/10/18/zack-orji-streaming-is-the-next-level-for-nollywood/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He gained wider recognition following the success of ''Glamour Girls'' and has since appeared in over 250 Nollywood films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Idowu |first=Hannah |date=2021-10-14 |title=Everything to know about actor Zack Orji's marriage, wife and children |url=https://dnbstories.com/2021/10/everything-about-zack-orjis-marriage-wife-and-children.html |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=DNB Stories Africa |language=en-GB}}</ref> He is also a singer and preacher.<ref name="vanguardngr.com" />
In 2000, Orji made his directorial debut with ''WEB'', starring alongside Ghanaian actress Kalsoume Sinare. The film won Best Collaborative Film at the Ghana awards in 2001.
In 2022, Orji endorsed Bola Tinubu for president ahead of the 2023 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oyero |first=Ezekiel |date=31 July 2022 |title=2023: Zack Orji declares support for Tinubu |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/546022-2023-zack-orji-declares-support-for-tinubu.html |access-date=2 August 2022 |newspaper=Premium Times|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 August 2022 |title=2023: Zack Orji, wife divided along political lines as she declares support for Peter Obi |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/08/2023-zack-orji-wife-divided-along-political-lines-as-she-declares-support-for-peter-obi/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2 August 2022 |newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Personal life == Orji is married to Ngozi Orji and has three children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Orji |first=Sunday |date=30 October 2016 |title=I prefer singing to acting –Ngozi, Zack Orji's wife |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/i-prefer-singing-to-acting-ngozi-zack-orjis-wife/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=18 July 2022 |newspaper=The Sun|language=en-us}}</ref> He established a charity organisation that supports people living with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups. He is a former president of the Actor's Guild of Nigeria. He has also been involved in businesses including real estate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=olukomaiya |first=funmilola |date=March 10, 2020 |title=zack orji: profile of ace nollywood actor |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2020/03/10/zack-orji-profile-of-ace-nollywood-actor/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=P.M. News}}</ref>
In a 2024 interview with ''Punch Nigeria'', Orji stated that he had undergone two brain surgeries in Nigeria, an experience that taught him to have faith in the country's healthcare system.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chima |first=Naomi |date=2024-04-26 |title=What my sickness taught me — Zack Orji |url=https://punchng.com/what-my-sickness-taught-me-zack-orji/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Filmography == *''Unforgiven Sin'' (1991) *''Living in Bondage'' (1992) *''Iva'' (1993) *''Living in Bondage 2'' (1993) *''Glamour Girls<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 May 2022 |title=Character I Played In Blood Sisters A Dream Role – Genoveva Umeh |url=https://independent.ng/character-i-played-in-blood-sisters-a-dream-role-genoveva-umeh/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=18 July 2022 |newspaper=Independent|language=en-GB}}</ref>'' (1994) as Fred *''Nneka the Pretty Serpent'' (1994) *''Rattle Snake'' (1995) *''True Confession'' (1995) *''Brotherhood of the Darkness'' (1995) as Pastor Josiah *''Blood on My Hands'' (1996)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blood on my hands |url=https://worldcat.org/title/70745773 |access-date=2023-10-17 |website=WorldCat}}</ref> *''Deadly Passion'' (1996) *''Glamour Girls 2'' (1996) *''Silent Night'' (1996) *''Love in Vendetta'' (1996) *''Abandon'' (1997) *''Blood Money'' (1997) as Mike Mouka *''Blood Vapour'' (1997) *''Desperate & Dangerous'' (1997) *''Dead End'' (1997?) *''Deadly Affair II'' (1997) *''Garbage'' (1997) *''Golden Fleece'' (1997) *''Diamond Ring 2'' (1998) *''Evil Men'' (1998) *''Karishika'' (1998) *''Sakobi 2: The Final Battle'' (1998) *''Witches'' (1998) as Desmond *''Day of Reckoning'' (1999) *''Endtime'' (1999) *''The Bastard'' (1999) *''Asimo'' (1999) as Pastor Tito *''The Visitor'' (1999) as Frank *''Lost Hope'' (2000) as Maxwell *''Fire Dancer'' (2001) as Daniel *''Hatred'' (2001) as Gideon *''Late Arrival'' (2001) *''Mothering Sunday'' (2001) as Humphrey *''Mothers Cry'' (2001) * ''Fire Dancer'' (2001) as Daniel *''Last Warning'' (2002) as Obidike *''Submission'' (2002) *''Days of Glory'' (2002?) *''Endtime 2'' (2003) *''Oga and His Boys'' (2003) as Ejike *''Bonds of Tradition'' (2004) (also director) *''Games Women Play'' (2005) as Damian *''Women's Cot'' (2005) *''Chameleon'' (2006) *''Light Out'' (2006) *''The Blues Kingdom'' (2007) (director only) *''Land of Shadow'' (2010) (also director) *''Tongue'' (2014) as Pastor Michael *''Head Gone'' (2015?) *''Brothers of Faith'' (2016) *''Three Wise Men'' (2017) *''Descent (2017)'' as Kalu Achebe *''Payday'' (2018) as Mr. Afolayan *''Just One Blood'' (2018) as Chief Odogwu *''The Williams'' (2018) as Mr. Williams *''Code Wilo'' (2019) *''Our Jesus Story'' (2020) *''Sweet Face''<ref name=":0" /> (2020) as Old Tobi *''Big Town''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Zack Orji |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1310918/ |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=IMDb}}</ref> (2021) *''Love Castle'' (2021) as Chizutere's Father *''Blood Sisters'' (2022) as David *''Half Of a Yellow Sun'' (2013) as Chief Ozobia *''The Other Man (2022)<ref name="imdb.com">{{Cite web |title=Zack Orji {{!}} Actor, Director, Writer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1310918/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>'' *''The Other Wife'' (2022)<ref name="imdb.com"/> *''Inside Life'' (2022) *''Violet'' (2023) as Mr. Chris *''Black Harvest'' (2023) *''Flip Side'' (2023) as Chief Uzoma *''Terror Muda in Courier Justice'' (2024) as Chief Abidja *''Something About the Briggs'' (2025)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35185591/fullcredits/ |title=Something About the Briggs (2025) - Full cast & crew - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2025-12-14 |via=www.imdb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dufe |first=Sahndra Fon |date=2025-01-23 |title=Something About the Briggs (2025): A Love, Marriage, and Family Drama You Can't Miss!! |url=https://www.blackfilmwire.com/post/something-about-the-briggs-2025-a-love-marriage-and-family-drama-you-can-t-miss |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Black Film Wire |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.thetimesofnigeria.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=269&Itemid=90&PHPSESSID=0c0bb0c163cffecc98b8fcfaae09e417 An interview with Zack]{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} *{{IMDb name|1310918}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Orji, Zack}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:Nigerian male film actors Category:University of Nigeria alumni Category:Igbo male actors Category:Nigerian film directors Category:20th-century Nigerian male actors Category:21st-century Nigerian male actors Category:Nigerian male television actors Category:Nigerian film producers