Daniel K. Daniel
Daniel K. Daniel in 2018
Born
Daniel Kanayo Daniel

(1986-05-22) 22 May 1986
Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria
Other namesDKD
Occupation(s)Actor, model, voice-over artiste, events compere
Years active2009 – present
AwardsAfrica Magic Viewers' Choice Awards
Africa Movie Academy Award
Websitewww.danielkdaniel.com

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 [1][2] 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,[3] as well as his roles in the period piece 76,[4][5][6][7] which also starred Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme and Rita Dominic[8] and the light-hearted Mummy Dearest alongside veteran Nigerian actress Liz Benson.[9] He was one of two Nollywood actors inducted into the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science class of 2022.[10][11]

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 the Southeast State of Enugu, 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.[12] 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,[13] and currently serves as the Special Adviser to the Nigerian Minister of Power on Media Matters.[14] He is the first of four children, one of whom is Chris Daniel Jnr (Kris'D) a musician and performing artist.[13]

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,[15] and later transferred to Federal Government College Enugu in 1999 to complete his senior secondary education.[16]

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).[17] 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.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19] 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[20] 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.[17][19]

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,[13] 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.[21] Daniel was also nominated for the Best of Nollywood Awards (BON), Revelation of the Year Category in 2014, which he won[22]

On 5 March 2016, Daniel won the Award for Best Actor in a (Drama)[3] at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2016 edition, for his role in the Nigerian war thriller A Soldier's Story.[23] 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.[24]

In June 2022, he and Funke Akindele were the only Nollywood actors invited into the Academy of Motion Pictures and Science class of 2022.[10]

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 [25]
2018 Zulu African Film Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Daniel K. Daniel Won [26]
2020 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards Best Actor in a Lead role – English Daniel K. Daniel Nominated [27]

Filmography

Movie roles

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2010Ladies' MenBernardAfam OkerekeFeature Film
The ChildOviaweIzu OjukwuFeature Film (Amstel Malta Box Office Produced Film)
Under 1 and 2DaveNonso EmekaekwueFeature Film
Sarah’s ChoiceSub-leadMak KusareFeature Film (Produced by the BBC)
2012Paint My Life/TempestFridayTchidi ChikereFeature Film
Lions of 76Corporal ObiIzu OjukwuFeature Film
2013Book of MagicObinnaNonso Ekene-OkonkwoFeature Film
Spirit GirlObinnaNonso Ekene-OkonkwoFeature Film
2014MatchmakerOpieSolomon McAuleyFeature Film (MNet-Afriwood Production)
GirlPitaSolomon McAuleyFeature Film (MNet-Afriwood Production)
I'm AudreyEsosaAlex MouthFeature Film (MNet-Afriwood Production)
Mummy DearestChijioke ChindaWillis IkedumFeature Film (Released in 2015)
Almost PerfectMajorDesmond ElliotFeature Film (Yet to be released)
A Long Night (2014)JudeDesmond ElliotFeature Film (Yet to be released)
Same DifferenceSamEhizojie OjeshoboloFeature Film
Devil in RedBryan OkorieChucks-John EjioforFeature Film
BambitiousJerry BraideOkechukwu OkuFeature Film
Fearless LionsEbubeVincent D AnointedFeature Film
Chimobi (The Only Son)ChimobiEmeka NnakiheFeature Film
2015Dise’s SecretsTonyJay Franklyn Jituboh/Chris OdehEbonylife TV Original Film
AmiableDaveStanlee OhikhuareFeature Film
A Soldier's StoryBossmanFrankie OgarProduced by Martin Gbados
Perfectly FlawedLead RoleChris EnengAfrica Magic Original Film
2016SchemersSub-LeadGbenga SaluProduced by Grace Edwin Okon
For the Wrong ReasonsSub-Lead RoleElvis ChuksAn Elvis Chuks Production
ObsessedLead RoleDabbie ChimereFeaturing Daniella Okeke, Mercy Ima Macjoe and Jorge Blaq.
The Flute BoyLeadAmaechi UkejeProduced by Demek Movies
The BrotherhoodLead RolePrince Emeka AniA Chez Movies Production
What Goes AroundLeadSadiq SuleProduced by Sadiq Sule
Icheke OkuPrince AgunannyaEmeka AmakezeAn Igbo Language Film
Awele My LoveLeadVictor OkoliProduced by Kelechi Onwuchekwa
Brother's LoveLeadBen EmehAn Uzo Sele Production
ChideraPrinceHenry MgbemeleAn Igbo Language Film, Produced by Coruma Movies
'76Corporal ObiIzu Ojukwu2017 AMVCA Film of the Year
Eye of LoveChukwudinigboUgezu J UgezuProduced by Trust in God Productions
OloibiriLieutenant YisaCurtis GrahamProduced by Rogers Ofime
2017Saved by LoveEzinneIfeanyi AzodohProduced by Great Films
A Day OutsideLeadIlochi OlisaemekaProduced by Happy Julian
Heavy in the GameLeadEvans OsigweProduced by Evans Osigwe
ScornedBosunTokunbo Ahmed/Asurf OluseyiProduced by Tokunbo Ahmed and Chris Martin
Broken ReedLeadKabat Esosa EgbonProduced by Daniel Imasuen
The GuardianSmokeKabat Esosa EgbonA Divine Images Production
Black WidowJideChibuike IkeProduced by Chibuike Ike
Hell or High WaterSub-LeadAsurf OluseyiA TIERS Production
2018Mummy Dearest 2LeadWillis Ikedum
Talking DollsLeadSukie OduwoleProduced by Marc Adebesin
After DarkSub-LeadChris EneajiIrokoTV
Low Lifes and High hopesSub-LeadBright OsafamwenA Frankie Ogar Production
Lagos LandingRichardTheo OkpaFeature film
ParadiseKraftDaniel OriahiProduced by Ijeoma Grace Agu
2019The Wedding GownLeadEdward UkaProduced by UcheNnanna
The FugitiveLeadAndy Boyo
The OblivionLeadNdave NjokuProduced by Colette Nwadike
The ClashLeadGoodnews IsikaAn IrokoTV Production
Let KarmaLeadBiodun StephenProduced by Aisha Mohammed
Why NotMaxwellPaul ApelProduced by Defo Productions.
2020AkpeSub-LeadToka McbarborProduced by Ushbebe
A Soldier's Story 2 - Return from the DeadLead role as BossmanFrankie OgarFeature film
Easy MoneyChief FernándezDaniel OriahiFeature film by Red Carpet Films
2021The Greener PasturesLeadSaint Stephen PiteesFeature film
2022The Drone that Saved ChristmasPrime Minister of SenegalMiriam BavlyFeature film by Breakout Music

Television roles

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2010My TreasureLeadLivinus OttehTV series
2011Away from HomeLeadWonder ObasiTV series
2013Car HireKola SweenyFrankie OgarEbonyLife TV Series
2015PulseWilliamPaul IgweTV series
2016How to Die in an African HomePapaDaniel K DanielWeb Series featuring Etinosa Idemudia
2017Professor John BullGuest StarTchidi ChikereTV series (produced by Globacom)
2017TinselGuest StarAfrica Magic SeriesTV series
2022DiicheNnamdi NwokejiJames OmokweTV series

References

  1. "Daniel K Daniel, Tope Tedela, Linda Ejiofor star in upcoming film". Pulse Nigeria. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  2. "A Soldier's Story – Featuring Linda Ejiofor, Tope Tedela, Adesua Etomi, Daniel K Daniel". Pride Magazine Nigeria. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 "AMVCA 2016: Check Out Complete List of Winners". YeYePikin.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. "Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah, Daniel K Daniel attend "76" premiere". Pulse Nigeria. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. nollywoodreinvented (23 March 2020). "'76". Nollywood Reinvented. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  6. "'76 the Movie - a story of love, honour and bullets'". Businessday NG. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  7. Kenechukwu, Nwaezuoke (20 November 2016). "76: The Greatest Nigerian Movie Ever!". Medium. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  8. "Acting 1976 Military Coup was Memorable - DKD". 360nobs. Lagos, Nigeria. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  9. "Liz Benson is Mummy Dearest". 360nobs. Lagos, Nigeria. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  10. 1 2 "The Academy Invites 397 New Members for 2022". aframe.oscars.org. California, United States. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  11. "The Academy Invites 397 New Members for Class of 2022". oscars.org. California, United States. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  12. "5 Minutes with Daniel K. Daniel". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 "Lessons my late dad taught me–Daniel Kanayo Daniel (DKD)". Eloti TV. Lagos, Nigeria. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  14. "Federal Government Says No Plan To Sack PHCN Workers". NTA News 24. Lagos, Nigeria. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  15. "Home | Command Day Secondary School Enugu". cdssenugu.org. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  16. "Federal Government College, Enugu - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 "Men who think I'm gay ask me out –Daniel K. Daniel". Punch Newspapers. Lagos, Nigeria. 4 April 2015. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  18. "5 Minutes with Daniel K. Daniel". Guardian Life Magazine. Lagos, Nigeria. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  19. 1 2 "I enjoy acting romantic roles with Tontoh Dike –Daniel Kanayo Daniel (dkd)". The Sun Newspapers. Lagos, Nigeria. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  20. "12 Catering Pioneers of Zamfara". Food Guide NG. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  21. "Winners from City People Entertainment Award: Mike Ezuruonye, Daniel K Daniel, Patience Ozokwor Win Big". Pulse NG. Lagos, Nigeria. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  22. "When Governor Amaechi Hosted Nollywood Stars for 2014 BON Awards". The NET NG. Lagos, Nigeria. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  23. "Full list of nominees for AMVCA 2016". The NET NG. Lagos, Nigeria. 12 December 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  24. "AMAA 2016: Full List Of Winners". Vanguard Newspapers. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  25. "BON Awards 2017: Kannywood's Ali Nuhu receives Special Recognition Award". Daily Trust. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  26. "Two years after, Ini Edo emerges winner of ZAFAA Best Actress award". NaijaLiveTV. Lagos, Nigeria. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  27. "Behold hot steppers and winners at BON awards 2020". Vanguard News. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
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