Sam Dede

{{Short description|Nigerian filmmaker and lecturer (born 1965)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Sam Dede

| image =

| birth_name = Samuel Dedetoku

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|11|17}}

| birth_place = Lagos

| nationality = Nigerian

| occupation = Film director, actor, lecturer, politician, television personality

| known_for =

| education = Government Comprehensive Secondary School

| alma_mater = University of Port Harcourt

| spouse = Tammy Sam-Dede (m. 2001)

| awards = Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role

| years_active = 1995–present

}}

Samuel Dedetoku, popularly known by his stage name Sam Dede (born 17 November 1965), is a Nigerian veteran actor, director, politician and lecturer. Sam Dede, as he is widely known in movies, studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt.{{Cite web|title=Sam Dede plans returning to Nollywood next year|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/sam-dede-plans-returning-to-nollywood-next-year/|date=7 August 2015|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US|access-date=8 May 2020}}{{cite web | url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/sam-dede-i-ll-not-dump-acting-for-politics/ | title=Sam Dede 'I 'll not dump acting for politics' | publisher=vanguardngr.com | accessdate=20 August 2014}}

Biography

Sam Dede was born on 17 November 1965 in Lagos and moved to Sapele.{{Cite web|title=SVAFF 2014 Special Recognition Award|url=https://www.svaff.org/index.php/awards/7-full-list-of-svaff-2012-award-winners|last=II|first=Gabriel Nwoffiah|website=www.svaff.org|language=en-gb|access-date=8 May 2020}}

Career

He entered the Nollywood industry in 1995 and rose to prominence for his role in the film Ijele. In 2005, Dede won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the 2004 film The Mayors.{{cite web|url=http://ama-awards.com/amaa-nominees-and-winners-2005|title=AMAA Awards and Nominees 2005|publisher=Africa Movie Academy Awards|accessdate=8 May 2020|location=Lagos, Nigeria|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129073035/http://www.ama-awards.com/amaa-nominees-and-winners-2005|archivedate=29 January 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.informationng.com/2012/11/nollywood-actor-sam-dede-loses-mother.html | title=Nollywood Actor, Sam Dede, Loses Mother | date=25 November 2012 | publisher=informationng.com | accessdate=20 August 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.nigeriamoviesreview.com/news/biography-of-sam-dede/ | title=Sam Dede Biography | publisher=nigeriamoviesreview.com | accessdate=20 August 2014}} He was honoured with SVAFF 2014 Special Recognition Award for his lifetime achievement and contributions to Nigerian cinema. He was nominated for the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2018 for his performance in the 2017 film In My Country.{{Cite web|title=AMAA 2018 Full List Of Winners|url=https://ama-awards.com/amaa-2018-winners.html|website=ama-awards.com|access-date=8 May 2020}}

He was appointed as the Director-General of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency in 2012 and served in the position for a short period of time.{{cite web | url=http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/arts-life/sam-dede-another-political-appointment-for-nollywood/ | title=Sam Dede: Another political appointment for Nollywood | publisher=punchng.com | access-date=20 August 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821055615/http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/arts-life/sam-dede-another-political-appointment-for-nollywood/ | archive-date=21 August 2014 }} He is also a lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt teaching acting to upcoming actors.{{Cite web|title=From NANTAP, honour for Sadiq Daba, Iya Awero, Iyen Obaseki, Sam Dede|url=https://m.guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/from-nantap-honour-for-sadiq-daba-iya-awero-iyen-obaseki-sam-dede/|date=5 October 2019|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US|access-date=8 May 2020}}{{Cite news|date=1 December 2019|title=Make all schools dey teach History for change to dey Africa - Sam Dede|work=BBC News Pidgin|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-50619614|access-date=8 May 2020}} One of his students, Yul Edochie went on to become a lead actor in Nollywood.{{Cite web|title=Yul Edochie celebrates veteran actor, Sam Dede - P.M. News|url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/07/27/yul-edochie-celebrates-veteran-actor-sam-dede/|website=www.pmnewsnigeria.com|access-date=8 May 2020}} He however said in 2012 that he would not drop acting for politics.{{Cite web|date=25 May 2012|title=Sam Dede 'I 'll not dump acting for politics'|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/sam-dede-i-ll-not-dump-acting-for-politics/|access-date=5 March 2021|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}