Jim Iyke

James Ikechukwu Esomugha, widely known as Jim Iyke, is a Nigerian actor, entrepreneur, and model. Born on September 25, 1976, in Libreville, Gabon, to Nigerian parents, he hails from Enugu Agidi town in Anambra State, Nigeria. Iyke completed his secondary school education in Gabon and proceeded to the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he obtained a diploma in Banking and Finance and later a B.Sc. in Philosophy. Iyke began his acting career in 1998 and quickly rose to prominence in the Nigerian film industry, commonly known as Nollywood. Known for his charismatic yet often controversial "bad boy" roles, he became one of the highest-paid actors in Nollywood by October 2013, having appeared in over 150 films. His career progression also saw him venture into film production and music. In 2007, he established his movie production company, Untamed Productions, and concurrently founded his own music record label, Untamed Records. Throughout his career, Jim Iyke has received several accolades, including the Best African Actor award at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards in 2008 and the Best Actor of the Year in 2010. A significant honor was being awarded a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011, recognizing his immense contributions to the Nigerian economy and entertainment sector. Notable films in his extensive filmography include: *Last Flight to Abuja* (2012), *When Love Comes Around* (2014), *Stalker* (2016), *American Driver* (2017), *Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons* (2018), *Dead Rite* (2019), *Merry Men 2: Another Mission* (2019), *Cold Feet* (2020), *Bad Comments* (2021), and *Hustle* (2021). As an entrepreneur, his current status involves actively managing his production and record label ventures while remaining a prominent and sought-after figure in the Nigerian movie industry.