Veteran Nollywood Actor, Lari Williams Dies, AGN Mourns

By Akinwale Kasali

The Actors Guild of Nigerian, AGN, and the Nigeria Film Industry, popularly known as   Nollywood is, again, bereaved.

It has lost one of its greatest and finest veteran actors, Lari Williams.

The late Actor famous for his roles in hit soap operas such as, Ripples, Village Headmaster and Mirror in the Sun, died yesterday, Sunday February 27th, 2022 at the age of 81 years.

A native of Ikom, Cross River State he had been battling with a prolonged illness, and finally bid the world farewell at his home in Ikom.

His passing was made known by his family members through a press statement.

During his lifetime, Williams was a poet, playwright and celebrated actor both in live theatre and on screen, earning him a prestigious National Honour, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2008.

Chief Williams was the first President of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria and had a career that spanned over five decades.

After studying Journalism at the London School of Journalism, he proceeded to study English language at Morley College and then drama at the Mountview Theatre School and Stratford E15 Acting School, England to become a professional actor.

Williams was educated at CMS Grammar School, Lagos. He is the first actor to ever perform on top of Zuma Rock in Abuja FCT, 1,200 feet high, where he performed his late friend, Maman Vatsa’s poem, ‘The bird that sings in the rain.’

He had lectured Theatre Arts in three Nigerian Universities – University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and University of Calabar.

“He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Burial arrangements will be announced soon,” the statement read.