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Daniel K. Daniel
DanielkDaniel2020.jpg
Daniel K. Daniel in 2018
Born
Daniel Kanayo Daniel

(1986-05-22) 22 May 1986 (age 38)
Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria
Other names DKD
Occupation Actor, model, voice-over artiste, events compere
Years active 2009 – present
Awards Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards
Africa Movie Academy Award

Daniel Kanayo Daniel (born 22 May 1986) is a Nigerian television and film actor, model, voice-over artiste and events compere. He is best known for his portrayal of Bossman in the movie A Soldier's Story, for which he won the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) and the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) awards for Best Actor, as well as his roles in the period piece 76, which also starred Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme and Rita Dominic and the light-hearted Mummy Dearest alongside veteran Nigerian actress Liz Benson. He was one of two Nollywood actors inducted into the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science class of 2022.

Early life

Daniel Kanayo Daniel was born at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, in Northeastern Nigeria on 22 May 1986.

While Daniel was a toddler, his family relocated to Lagos State in Southwest Nigeria and then to Enugu State in the southeast region of Nigeria, where he began his formal education. Daniel is of Igbo descent and is a native of Nenwe in Ani-Nri Local Government Area of Enugu State. He was brought up in a Christian home. His father, Chris Daniel was an engineer and his mother Kande Daniel is a Broadcast Journalist and former National President of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, and currently serves as the Special Adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Power on Media Matters. He is the first of four children, one of whom is Chris Daniel Jnr (Kris'D) a musician and performing artist.

Daniel led the drama and debating club of his primary school, Command Children School. Almost always at the top of his class, he graduated into secondary school in 1996. He enrolled in Command Day Secondary School Enugu, and later transferred to Federal Government College Enugu in 1999 to complete his senior secondary education.

Daniel had desired to train as a pilot, having had three role model fighter pilots in his family: his foster grandfather, former Chief of Air Staff, (Late) Air Marshal Ibrahim Alfa, and his three uncles – Squadron Leader John Chukwu, Air Vice-Marshal Chris Chukwu, and Shu'aibu Alfa (a civil pilot). Daniel's hopes were dashed when he was diagnosed with myopia (short sightedness) and was told it would be difficult to achieve his dream with poor eyesight. At this time his father moved to Port Harcourt, Rivers State in South-south Nigeria, while his mother moved to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, on separate national assignments. He then got admission into the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State in 2004 to study Applied Biochemistry.

In November 2004, Daniel's life changed for good as he lost his father in a ghastly auto crash and being the first child, he had to grow up quickly. In 2005 his family relocated to Abuja after his father’s death in Port Harcourt while his studies continued in Nnamdi Azikiwe University where he also started his modelling career. He graduated from the University in 2009 and managed his uncle’s business Twinkles Catering Service, the pioneer eatery in Gusau, Zamfara State for four months.

Career

Daniel started his modelling career while in school, doing a couple of Television commercials for Zandas Cosmetics. In 2009 when he returned to Abuja from the university, he took part in a few runway shows including the Abuja Moroccan Fashion Show. After one of the shows, Supermodel Steiner Eunice Opara, dragged a reluctant Daniel to a movie audition. The directors – Kabat Esosa Egbon and Tola Balogun were impressed by Daniel’s talent and gave him his very first acting job in the Television series All About Us.

He then got cast for a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) movie titled Sarah’s Choice, directed by Mak Kusare in which he starred alongside OC Ukeje, Seun Dada and Sylvia Oluchi. After the success of Sarah’s Choice, Daniel took on the role of the antagonist in the Amstel Malta Box Office produced movie, The Child, directed by Izu Ojukwu in which he starred alongside Joke Silva, Alex Usifo, Bukky Ajayi, and Wole Ojo. Afterwards he gained the lead role in the hit movie, Ladies' Men, directed by Afam Okereke, also starring Mercy Johnson, Funke Akindele, Queen Nwokoye, Ruth Kadiri, Alex Ekubo, Chigozie Atuanya.

Daniel took a break from his newfound acting career in February 2010 to go for his National Youth Service, which is a mandatory requirement for Nigerian University graduates. He then worked with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory as part of his youth service.

He returned to acting in 2011 at the end of his Youth Service program and starred in a plethora of movies including Under which was shot in Ghana, Ivie, Same Difference, Paint My Life, Tempest, Lions of 76, Jujuwood, Body of the King, Book of Magic, Matchmaker, Spirit Girl, Devil in Red, Girl, Mummy Dearest, Bambitious and others. He has also starred in a number of Television Series such as My Treasure, Spider and Car Hire. Daniel was also part of the cast in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio drama series – Story Story and Neighbor My Neighbor.

Awards and recognitions

In 2014, Daniel was nominated for the City People Awards, Best New Actor of the Year category, an award he went on to win. Daniel was also nominated for the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON), Revelation of the Year Category in 2014, which he won

On 5 March 2016, Daniel won the Award for Best Actor in a (Drama) at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2016 edition, for his role in the Nigerian war thriller A Soldier's Story. In the same year, Daniel also won the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the same movie.

In June 2022, he and Funke Akindele were the only Nollywood actors invited into the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science class of 2022.

Awards

Year Event Prize Recipient Result Ref
2014 City People Awards Best New Actor of the Year Daniel K. Daniel Won
Best of Nollywood Awards (BON) Revelation of the Year Daniel K. Daniel Won
2016 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Actor in a (Drama) Daniel K. Daniel Won
12th Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Actor Daniel K. Daniel Won
Golden Movie Awards Best Actor Daniel K Daniel Nominated
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Actor Daniel K Daniel Nominated
2017 Best of Nollywood Awards Best Kiss in a Movie Daniel K Daniel Nominated
2018 Zulu African Film Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Daniel K. Daniel Won
2020 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards Best Actor in a Lead role – English Daniel K. Daniel Nominated

Filmography

Movie roles

Year Title Role Director Notes
2010 Ladies' Men Bernard Afam Okereke Feature Film
The Child Oviawe Izu Ojukwu Feature Film (Amstel Malta Box Office Produced Film)
Under 1 and 2 Dave Nonso Emekaekwue Feature Film
Sarah’s Choice Sub-lead Mak Kusare Feature Film (Produced by the BBC)
2012 Paint My Life/Tempest Friday Tchidi Chikere Feature Film
Lions of 76 Corporal Obi Izu Ojukwu Feature Film
2013 Book of Magic Obinna Nonso Ekene-Okonkwo Feature Film
Spirit Girl Obinna Nonso Ekene-Okonkwo Feature Film
2014 Matchmaker Opie Solomon McAuley Feature Film (MNet-Afriwood Production)
Girl Pita Solomon McAuley Feature Film (MNet-Afriwood Production)
I'm Audrey Esosa Alex Mouth Feature Film (MNet-Afriwood Production)
Mummy Dearest Chijioke Chinda Willis Ikedum Feature Film (Released in 2015)
Almost Perfect Major Desmond Elliot Feature Film (Yet to be released)
A Long Night (2014) Jude Desmond Elliot Feature Film (Yet to be released)
Same Difference Sam Ehizojie Ojeshobolo Feature Film
Devil in Red Bryan Okorie Chucks-John Ejiofor Feature Film
Bambitious Jerry Braide Okechukwu Oku Feature Film
Fearless Lions Ebube Vincent D Anointed Feature Film
Chimobi (The Only Son) Chimobi Emeka Nnakihe Feature Film
2015 Dise’s Secrets Tony Jay Franklyn Jituboh/Chris Odeh Ebonylife TV Original Film
Amiable Dave Stanlee Ohikhuare Feature Film
A Soldier's Story Bossman Frankie Ogar Produced by Martin Gbados
Perfectly Flawed Lead Role Chris Eneng Africa Magic Original Film
2016 Schemers Sub-Lead Gbenga Salu Produced by Grace Edwin Okon
For the Wrong Reasons Sub-Lead Role Elvis Chuks An Elvis Chuks Production
Obsessed Lead Role Dabbie Chimere Featuring Daniella Okeke, Mercy Ima Macjoe and Jorge Blaq.
The Flute Boy Lead Amaechi Ukeje Produced by Demek Movies
The Brotherhood Lead Role Prince Emeka Ani A Chez Movies Production
What Goes Around Lead Sadiq Sule Produced by Sadiq Sule
Icheke Oku Prince Agunannya Emeka Amakeze An Igbo Language Film
Awele My Love Lead Victor Okoli Produced by Kelechi Onwuchekwa
Brother's Love Lead Ben Emeh An Uzo Sele Production
Chidera Prince Henry Mgbemele An Igbo Language Film, Produced by Coruma Movies
'76 Corporal Obi Izu Ojukwu 2017 AMVCA Film of the Year
Eye of Love Chukwudinigbo Ugezu J Ugezu Produced by Trust in God Productions
Oloibiri Lieutenant Yisa Curtis Graham Produced by Rogers Ofime
2017 Saved by Love Ezinne Ifeanyi Azodoh Produced by Great Films
A Day Outside Lead Ilochi Olisaemeka Produced by Happy Julian
Heavy in the Game Lead Evans Osigwe Produced by Evans Osigwe
Scorned Bosun Tokunbo Ahmed/Asurf Oluseyi Produced by Tokunbo Ahmed and Chris Martin
Broken Reed Lead Kabat Esosa Egbon Produced by Daniel Imasuen
The Guardian Smoke Kabat Esosa Egbon A Divine Images Production
Black Widow Jide Chibuike Ike Produced by Chibuike Ike
Hell or High Water Sub-Lead Asurf Oluseyi A TIERS Production
2018 Mummy Dearest 2 Lead Willis Ikedum
Talking Dolls Lead Sukie Oduwole Produced by Marc Adebesin
After Dark Sub-Lead Chris Eneaji IrokoTV
Low Lifes and High hopes Sub-Lead Bright Osafamwen A Frankie Ogar Production
Lagos Landing Richard Theo Okpa Feature film
Paradise Kraft Daniel Oriahi Produced by Ijeoma Grace Agu
2019 The Wedding Gown Lead Edward Uka Produced by UcheNnanna
The Fugitive Lead Andy Boyo
The Oblivion Lead Ndave Njoku Produced by Colette Nwadike
The Clash Lead Goodnews Isika An IrokoTV Production
Let Karma Lead Biodun Stephen Produced by Aisha Mohammed
Why Not Maxwell Paul Apel Produced by Defo Productions.
2020 Akpe Sub-Lead Toka Mcbarbor Produced by Ushbebe
A Soldier's Story 2 - Return from the Dead Lead role as Bossman Frankie Ogar Feature film
Easy Money Chief Fernández Daniel Oriahi Feature film by Red Carpet Films
2021 The Greener Pastures Lead Saint Stephen Pitees Feature film
2022 The Drone that Saved Christmas Prime Minister of Senegal Miriam Bavly Feature film by Breakout Music

Television roles

Year Title Role Director Notes
2010 My Treasure Lead Livinus Otteh TV series
2011 Away from Home Lead Wonder Obasi TV series
2013 Car Hire Kola Sweeny Frankie Ogar EbonyLife TV Series
2015 Pulse William Paul Igwe TV series
2016 How to Die in an African Home Papa Daniel K Daniel Web Series featuring Etinosa Idemudia
2017 Professor John Bull Guest Star Tchidi Chikere TV series (produced by Globacom)
2017 Tinsel Guest Star Africa Magic Series TV series
2022 Diiche Nnamdi Nwokeji James Omokwe TV series

See also

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