The death of veteran actor and filmmaker Kayode Peters, best known for playing Koko in the sitcom “Flatmates,” has plunged the Nigerian entertainment industry into deep mourning. After a protracted illness, he died on Saturday, June 28, in Toronto, Canada. He was forty-nine.
His family confirmed he “passed peacefully this morning after a long-time illness” on his official Instagram page, which was used to announce the tragic news. Since then, coworkers and admirers from all over the nation have been sending tributes. Popular comedian Yaw (Steve Onu) and industry insider Seun Oloketuyi, who founded the Best of Nollywood Awards, also verified the tragic news on social media.
In Nollywood comedies, Kayode Peters was well-known. Fans first fell in love with him on screen in the early 2000s when he portrayed the cunning and hilarious Koko in the popular TV sitcoms “Flatmates” and “Twilight Zone,” even though many were already familiar with him behind the camera as a successful director and producer. He was a mainstay in Nigerian homes for years as his character turned into a cult favorite.
In addition to acting, KP, as he was affectionately known, produced and directed a number of comedies and stage plays, influencing the careers of numerous talented Nigerians. He had an impact on live theater, television, and film.
Though gone too soon, Kayode Peters’ laughter-filled legacy lives on in every episode of Flatmates and in the hearts of those who knew and admired his work. His death is a huge loss to Nollywood and the creative industry at large.
May he rest in peace.
