By: Ismaeel Aleem
His daughter, Kira Taiwo, confirmed the news in an emotional live video, repeatedly saying, “My daddy is dead.” The confirmation came five days after the family dismissed earlier reports of his death as false.
Days before his passing, daughters Kira and Haleemah revealed that he was battling stage-four cancer and sought medical assistance rather than financial donations. Several Nollywood colleagues held a special prayer session for him as his condition worsened.
Hassan was born on October 31, 1959, in Ilaro, Ogun State. He spent his early years there before moving to Lagos, where he pursued his education, trained as an automobile mechanic, and later worked for about 13 years at the Lagos State Water Corporation.
He began acting in 1981 while still working as a mechanic, learning through practical theatre experience. In 1994, he resigned from his government job to focus fully on acting as the home-video era gained popularity in Nigeria.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Ogogo became a household name in Yoruba cinema, appearing in family dramas, traditional stories, and films exploring moral and social themes. He worked not only as an actor but also as a producer, director, and screenwriter. Notable credits include Owo Blow, Agbelebu, Omo Ghetto, Omin, Tenant of the House, Bank Alert, and Aníkúlápó.
In the mid-1990s, he appeared in and contributed behind the camera to titles such as Agbelebu (1995), Dr Brown (1995, also as writer), Ekun-Ayo (Tears of Joy) (1996, also as writer and producer), and Owo Blow Parts 2 and 3 (1996), in which he played Wole Owolabi.
Later roles included Adesina in Omin (2008), Yomi in
Elewon (2009), a Divisional Police Officer in Omo Ghetto (2010), Hon. Kasali in Tenant of the House (2019), Alhaji in Amerah (2021), Grandpa in Bank Alert(2023), Olalere in IGE – The Unlikely Oil Merchant (2023), and Alaafin Ademuyiwa in Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre (2024).
His portrayal of Alaafin Ademuyiwa in Kunle Afolayan’s 2022 Netflix film Aníkúlápó introduced him to a younger and wider audience.
The performance earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Hassan once disclosed that his mother gave birth to four sets of twins and that he was the only surviving child.
He spoke strongly about fatherhood and parental responsibility, insisting that men could not permanently escape their duties to their children.
The screen name “Ogogo” became inseparable from his identity and remains closely associated with memorable portrayals of authority figures, family patriarchs, and characters navigating tradition and modern life in Yoruba films.
His death marks the end of a career that bridged the stage and early home-video eras with contemporary streaming productions.