Kenneth Okolie

Okolie is a native of Ihiala in Anambra State, a southeastern geographical area of Nigeria predominantly occupied by the Igbo people of Nigeria. Okolie is the firstborn child of his parents and has three siblings. He graduated with a B.Sc. degree from Valley View University in Ghana.^[8][9]

Okolie, before his debut into the Nigerian movie industry, began as a model^[10] in 2006, which he described as a coincidence, as he merely escorted a friend to an audition for models and never intended to participate in the auditioning process. He was compelled to audition by the organisers, which he accepted. He was successful in the audition and was selected, marking the start of his modelling career. In 2010, four years after beginning his modelling career, Okolie participated in the Mr Nigeria male pageant and won.^[11][12] After winning the pageant, Okolie competed in the Mister World pageant and finished as the second runner-up. Okolie debuted in the Nigerian movie industry in 2011. Okolie described his venture into the Nigerian movie industry also as a coincidence, as he never intended to be an actor.^[13][14]

In 2015, Okolie won the City People Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor of the Year (English) at the City People Entertainment Awards.^[15][16]

Okolie married Nwaka Jessica in 2017 and in 2019, she gave birth to their first child.^[17][18][19] Okolie had a crush on Nse Ikpe-Etim and Ufuoma Ejenobor.^[20]

In 2012, Okolie travelled to Owerri, the capital of Imo State, to shoot a movie alongside Nollywood colleague Nkiru Sylvanus. On 15 December 2012, it was reported that Okolie and Nkiru Sylvanus had been abducted, and their captors demanded a ransom of ₦100,000,000 (one hundred million naira), which was equivalent to $640,000 (six hundred and forty thousand U.S. dollars) at the 2012 exchange rate.^[21][22] On 21 December 2012, at 10:30 p.m., after six days in captivity, Okolie and Nkiru Sylvanus were released. The amount ultimately paid for their release was never disclosed by the Nigerian media.^{[23][24][25][26]}