Bucci Franklin, the Nigerian actor, has announced the passing of Joy Odurukwe, his mother.
In a recent Instagram post, the ‘To Kill A Monkey Star’ actor shared an obituary notice, accompanied by a poignant caption: “Hey Mama,” followed by a dove emoji.
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Franklin did not disclose the specific date or cause of her death.
The announcement prompted an outpouring of sympathy, with fans and colleagues flooding the comments section to offer their condolences and support.
Born Onyebuchi Franklin Odurukwe, the actor holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Abuja.
He began his career in media, working as one of the pioneer on-air personalities for Love FM 104.5 in Abuja, where he co-anchored the Morning Show and hosted ‘Abuja on The Move’ for five years.
He later transitioned to acting, with early appearances in comedian AY Makun’s 2013 series ‘AY’s Crib’. His breakthrough came with roles in major Nollywood productions such as ‘Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story’, ‘The Wait’, and ‘A Weekend to Forget’.
The actor recently opened up about the impact growing up without a father figure in his life. He clarified that while his father was alive, he was entirely absent.
He said the void left him vulnerable to negative influences during his formative years.
Franklin paid tribute to his mother’s struggle as a single parent. He also extended his “maximum respect” to single mothers, but emphasised the irreplaceable role of a male influence for young boys.
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