Keppy Ekpenyong

{{Infobox person

| name = Keppy Ekpenyong

| image = Keppy Ekpenyong at 2021 AMA Award 03.jpg

| caption = Keppy Ekpenyong at 2021 AMA Award

| birth_name = Keppy Ekpenyong Edet Bassey-Inyang

| nationality = Nigerian

| birth_date = 21 March{{year needed|date=October 2022}}

| birth_place = Lagos State, Nigeria

| alma_mater = University of Calabar and University of Lagos

| occupation = Actor

| years_active =

| children =

| website =

}}

Keppy Ekpenyong Edet Bassey-Inyang {{Audio|Ig-Keppy Ekpenyong.ogg|listen|help=no}} is a Nigerian actor{{Cite web |date=12 April 2021 |title=My mother prayed about my anger issues for 15 years ― Keppy Ekpenyong |url=https://punchng.com/my-mother-prayed-about-my-anger-issues-for-15-years-―-keppy-ekpenyong/ |access-date=17 July 2022 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} who received a commendation award from the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2018 for his contributions to Nollywood.{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/keppy-ekpeyong-bassey-inyang-had-his-day-on-wednesday/|title=Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey Inyang had his day on Wednesday|date=24 March 2018|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US|access-date=29 November 2019}}

Early life and education

Ekpenyong born on 21 March{{when|date=October 2022}} in Military Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State hails from Akwa-Ibom State, a south-south geographical region of Nigeria that is predominantly occupied by minority tribes in Nigeria. Ekpenyong received all his education from primary level to tertiary level in Nigeria. He attended Corona Schools Crèche, Ikoyi and Corona School Victoria Island to obtain primary education. He attended Government College Ojo secondary school where he obtained his West African Senior School Certificate. Ekpenyong attended the University Of Calabar In Cross River State and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics and in 1982 obtained a Masters's Degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos.

Career

Ekpenyong began acquiring his acting skills during his NYSC service with the NTA. He functioned In the Programmes Department and worked as an intern under the supervision of Nigerian ace director; Tade Ogidan.{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/beloved-nollywood-star-keppy-ekpeyong-bassey-goes-to-liberia/|title=Beloved Nollywood star, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, goes to Liberia!|website=guardian.ng|language=en-US|access-date=29 November 2019}} In 1987 and 1988 he was trained and involved in Drama, Script-Writing, Voice- Over, Producing, and Presenting. After his NYSC program he was featured in the soap opera Ripples where he played airline pilot Hassan Suleman. When the Nigerian movie industry began to blossom he switched from soap opera to home videos. In 1993, he co-produced a movie titled Unforgiven Sin{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201108230887.html|title=I Produced Nollywood's First Film - Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassy|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}.

In 2018, the 10th BON edition award show was hosted by Ekpenyong and Nigerian female comedian Helen Paul.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/bon-2018-keppy-ekpeyong-bassey-helen-paul-will-host-10th-edition-in-oyo/spwnsbj.amp|title=BON 2018: Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Helen Paul will host 10th edition in Oyo|website=www.pulse.ng|access-date=29 November 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://thenet.ng/keppy-ekpenyong-helen-paul-host-bon-awards-2018-jason-njoku-kene-mkparu-others-special-recognition-awards/|title=Keppy Ekpenyong, Helen Paul To Host BON Awards 2018; Jason Njoku, Kene Mkparu, Others For Special Recognition Awards|date=26 November 2018|website=Nigerian Entertainment Today|language=en-GB|access-date=29 November 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/helen-paul-keppy-ekpenyong-to-host-2018-bon-awards/|title=Helen Paul, Keppy Ekpenyong to host 2018 BON Awards|date=22 November 2018|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US|access-date=29 November 2019}}

Awards

Ekpenyong won City People Movie Lifetime Achievement Award at the City People Entertainment Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legit.ng/903475-nigerian-ghanaian-celebrities-storm-awards-event-eye-popping-dresses-photos.html|title=Nigerian, Ghanaian celebrities storm awards event in eye popping dresses (photos)|last=Ogunseye|first=Zainab|date=27 July 2016|website=www.legit.ng|language=en|access-date=29 November 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.citypeopleonline.com/how-i-have-stayed-relevant-as-an-actor-for-over-35-yrs-veteran-actor-keppy-bassey-ekpeyong/|title=How I Have Stayed Relevant As An Actor For Over 35 Yrs – Veteran Actor, KEPPY BASSEY EKPEYONG|last=People|first=City|date=28 October 2019|website=City People Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=29 November 2019}}
Commendation Award (2018) by Actors Guild of Nigeria.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/agn-honours-keppy-ekpeyong-bassey-for-his-achievements-as-a-veteran-actor/g8gzf51.amp|title=AGN honours Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey for his achievements as a veteran actor|website=www.pulse.ng|access-date=29 November 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107153314/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/agn-honours-keppy-ekpeyong-bassey-for-his-achievements-as-a-veteran-actor/g8gzf51.amp|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201811090924.html|title=Nigeria: AGN Honours Nollywood Veterans|date=9 November 2018|website=allAfrica.com|language=en|access-date=29 November 2019}}

Personal life

Ekpenyong is married and has two children.

Selected filmography

Glamour Girls (1994)
Magic Money (1998) as Collins
Black Mamba (2002)
Princess Buttem (2003)
Turn Table (2004)
Schemers: Bad Babes (2004) as Gbenga
Little Angel (2004)
Dark Secret (2004)
Too Much Money (2005)
The Barons (2005)
Emotional Hazard (2005) as The Star
Anini (2005)
Total Control (2006)
Lady of Faith (2006)
The Accursed (2007)
On Bended Knees (2007)
Life Bullet (2007)
Double Game (2007)
Changing Faces (2008) as Bade Cole
Smoke & Mirrors (2008) as Akin
Inale (2010) as Prince Agaba
Conversations at Dinner (2013) as Uncle Buchi
...When Love Happens (2014) as Tunde Bankole-Smith
St. Mary (2014) as Don Daddy
93 Days (2016) as Patrick Oliver Sawyer
Hire A Man (2017) as Mr. Lawson
Nneka the Pretty Serpent (2020) as Tega Oghenekaro
Blood Sisters (2022) as Ifeanyi
Ije Awele (2022) as Obinna Okpara
Teni's Big Day (2023) as Mr. Lawson
The House of Secrets (2023) as General Sanni
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (2024)
The Weekend (2024){{Cite web |title=Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey {{!}} Actor, Producer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2166823/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}

=TV series=

Dere (TV Series, 2017)
King of Boys: The Return of the King (2021) as President Mumusa{{Cite web|last=Adekanye|first=Modupe|date=26 July 2021|title=King Of Boys: The Return Of The King Returns As 7-Episode Series|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/king-of-boys-the-return-of-the-king-returns-as-7-episode-series/|access-date=6 August 2021|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729140833/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/king-of-boys-the-return-of-the-king-returns-as-7-episode-series/|url-status=dead}}