Deyemi Okanlawon

Born on 19 April 1981 in Lagos State, Nigeria, Adeyemi “Deyemi” Okanlawon grew up as the son of an aircraft engineer father and a baker‑entrepreneur mother, which exposed him early to both technical rigor and creative entrepreneurship. He attended Taikenny Nursery and Primary School, followed by the International School, Lagos, before earning a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos and a Certificate in Acting for Film from the Delyork Creative Academy. His passion for performance ignited at the tender age of five when he appeared in a school play, and by nine he was already featuring in a nationally broadcast television commercial alongside notable actors Kunle Bamtefa and Sola Sobowale. While still a university student, he actively participated in drama groups, balancing his engineering studies with a burgeoning love for the stage and screen. After graduating, he briefly worked as a sales and marketing executive in the FMCG sector, but the pull of acting proved irresistible, leading him to debut in the feature film ZR‑7: The Red House Seven in 2011 and quickly amass roles in short films, web series, and commercials.

Since committing to acting full‑time in 2013, Deyemi Okanlawon has appeared in over fifty productions spanning film, television, theatre, music videos, and voice‑over work, earning nominations and awards from prestigious bodies such as AFRIFF, AMAA, AMVCA, and Ghana Movie Awards. His standout performances in Netflix Originals—including King of Boys: The Return of the King, Blood Sisters, and Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman—have cemented his status as a leading Nollywood talent, highlighted by his designation as the highest‑grossing actor in 2020 and 2021. In 2015 he founded Covenant Entertainment Services, later serving as marketing manager and acting CEO at Silverbird Film Distribution, before returning to acting full‑time in 2021. He married his wife Damilola in January 2013, and together they welcomed their first child on 10 July 2016, marking the start of his journey as a devoted husband and father.