Hanks Anuku is an icon in the Nigerian movie scene, renowned for his compelling portrayals of villains that endeared him to film lovers across Nollywood. With his distinctive bad-guy persona, Anuku became a household name and a favourite on screen.
In recent years, he has been in the news amidst rumours and speculations about his health and personal life, sparking widespread curiosity and concern. But what is the real truth about Hanks Anuku?
Table of Content hide 1 Hanks Anuku biography 2 Hanks Anuku career 3 Hanks Anuku movies 4 Hanks Anuku’s net worth 5 Hanks Anuku family 6 Hanks Anuku age 7 Hanks Anuku InstagramHanks Anuku biography
Hanks Anuku, born on May 12, 1960, is a notable Nigerian actor renowned for his frequent portrayals of villains in Nollywood films.
Anuku was born and raised in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in South-West Nigeria. He attended Loyola College in Ibadan for his secondary education before furthering his studies at Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State, where he graduated in 1981 with a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication.
Though he grew up in Ibadan, Anuku is originally from Ika in Delta State, in the South-South region of Nigeria.
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Hanks Anuku career
Anuku started his acting career in 1993 after returning from a short stay in the United States. Though he tried acting in America, it was not until he returned to Nigeria that his career took off. He quickly became a regular face in Nollywood movies, often cast as a tough and ruthless character. His strong performances in roles like gang leaders, criminals and corrupt officials left a lasting impression on audiences.
As his reputation grew, Anuku became one of the most sought-after actors in Nollywood. His ability to bring depth and authenticity to his roles made him stand out. Movies like Broad Daylight and Desperados showcased his talent for playing intense and complex characters. Anuku’s roles often involved dramatic confrontations, schemes and thrilling action scenes, which made his performances memorable and exciting.
In 2017, Anuku made a big change by becoming a Ghanaian citizen and moving to Accra, Ghana, with his family. This move was significant because he also changed his name to Nana Kwame Fifi Kakra Anuku and decided to live in Ghana permanently. Despite leaving Nigeria, he continued to act and remained connected to the film industry.
In 2022, Anuku faced a tough period when a video of him looking distressed surfaced online. The video led people to believe he was struggling with mental health issues. This revelation led to widespread concern within the industry. Personalities, including a content creator, Nasboi, who shared a video of himself giving Anuku money after encountering him on the streets, raised alarms and highlighted Anuku’s struggles. The industry and his fans rallied around Anuku during his time of need. Efforts were made to provide him with the necessary assistance and support to recover from his distress.
Shan George, a fellow Nollywood actress, quickly denied these claims. She stated that Anuku was not mentally unstable. However, her assertion was contested by another actress, Adanma Luke, who insisted that Anuku’s condition was real. The conflicting reports prompted the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) to launch an investigation to determine the truth.
In a recent interview with philanthropist and content creator, Lucky Udu, Anuku explained that the video was taken while he was preparing for a movie role that required him to portray a mentally unstable person. He accused those who circulated the video of attempting to damage his reputation, emphasising that the footage was misinterpreted. According to Anuku, he was merely getting into character and immersing himself in the environment as the director had instructed.
He expressed frustration and disappointment over the incident, saying, “I was getting into character for a role. I needed to experience the environment as the director wanted.”
The false portrayal had a profound effect on Anuku’s life. He revealed that he lost friends and significant financial opportunities as a result of the video. According to him, producers stopped offering him roles, leading to a substantial loss of income and leaving him without work for an extended period. The misunderstanding isolated him from his professional network as the public perception of his condition became a major obstacle in his career.
Anuku shared the emotional toll it took on him, stating, “I lost friends, and producers stopped reaching out to me. I lost significant income and found myself without work. People didn’t care about my situation. It was only through God’s guidance that I found help.”
Hanks Anuku movies
- Aki and Pawpaw (2021) – Chief Priest
- B.E.M: Black Emancipation Movement (2017)
- Merciful Heart (2016) – King of Cannibal
- Swagger Babes (2012) – Byron
- Amnesty (2011) – Pere
- Lords of the Game 2 (2008)
- Lords of the Game (2008) – Sylvester Ogbolu
- Treasure Hunt 2 (2007)
- Treasure Hunt (2007)
- Fools on the Run 2 (2007)
- Fools on the Run (2007)
- Virgin’s Heart (2007)
- Men on Hard Way 2 (2007) – Jones
- Men on Hard Way (2007) – Jones
- Brutal Heart (2007)
- Laviva (2007)
- Life Abroad (2006)
- King of the Town 2 (2006)
- King of the Town (2006)
- Last Kobo 3 (2006) (as Hank Anuku)
- Last Kobo 2 (2006) (as Hank Anuku)
- Last Kobo (2006) – Osherenge (as Hank Anuku)
- The Captor (2006) – Lynx
- The Captor 2 (2006) – Lynx
- Stubborn Billionaires 2 (2006)
- Stubborn Billionaires (2006)
- The Defender (2006)
- The Defender 2 (2006)
- The Crusader (2006)
- The Crusader 2 (2006)
- Simple Baby 2 (2006)
- Simple Baby (2006)
- Blood on Ice 2 (2006)
- Blood on Ice (2006) – General (as Hank Anuku)
- Desperate Ambition 2 (2006) – Bosco
- Desperate Ambition (2006)
- I Feel U 2 (2005)
- I Feel U (2005)
- Endless Lies 2 (2005) – Charles
- Endless Lies (2005) – Charles
- Trinity 2 (2005)
- Trinity (2005)
- The Girl Is Mine 2 (2005)
- The Girl Is Mine (2005)
- Gl2 2 (2005)
- Gl2 (2005)
- Save the Baby 2 (2005)
- Save the Baby (2005)
- Bitter Honey (2005)
- Living in Tears 2 (2005)
- Living in Tears (2005)
- Home Apart 2 (2005)
- Home Apart (2005)
- Django 2 (2005)
- Django (2005)
- Final Game 2 (2005)
- Final Game (2005) – Tony
- Unfaithful (2004)
- Columbia Connection 2 (2004)
- Columbia Connection (2004)
- King of the Jungle 2 (2004)
- King of the Jungle (2004)
- Perfect Murder (2004)
- Discord 2 (2004)
- Discord (2004)
- Blood Diamonds (2004)
- Last Decision (2004)
- Dear Sister (2004) – Ebube
- Ògìdán 2 (2004)
- Ògìdán (2004)
- Sensational Spy 2 (2004)
- Sensational Spy (2004) – Lugard
- Risky Affair (2004) – Mike
- No Place to Hide (2004) – Steve
- Expensive Error 2 (2003)
- Expensive Error (2003) – Ubaka
- Lean on Me 2 (2003)
- Lean on Me (2003)
- Accidental Discharge (2003) – Ken (as Hank Anuku)
- ‘am in Love (2003)
- Unforgettable 2 (2003)
- Unforgettable (2003)
- Twin Brothers (2003)
- Player: Mr. Lover Man (2003)
- My Love (2002)
- Formidable Force (2002) – Bill (as Hank Anuku)
- Wanted Alive (2001)
- Broad Day Light (2001) – Johnny
- She Devil (2001) – Johnny
- Desperadoes 2 (2001)
- Desperadoes (2001)
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Hanks Anuku’s net worth
Anuku’s current net worth is unascertainable at the moment, The veteran Nollywood actor, Anuku, has implied that he is currently facing financial distress. In his interview with Lucky Idu, Anuku disclosed that donations from friends funded his recent birthday celebration, including the cake and drinks. His financial distress stems from his recent inability to secure work from producers and directors.
Hanks Anuku family
Anuku has been married and is a father to two children. His mother is Late Chief Mrs P.N.Anuku. Hanks Anuku’s late sister, Rita Anuku, was a prominent figure in her own right having been crowned Miss Nigeria in 1986. Her accomplishments brought pride to the family, though her untimely death in 2015 was a profound loss for Anuku and his relatives.
The actor also revealed that he has a twin brother, not so many knew this. He stated that during his trying times when the viral video of him was making the rounds, his immediate family, including his twin brother, deserted him.
Hanks Anuku age
Anuku is 64 years old as of 2024.
Hanks Anuku Instagram
Hanks Anuku enjoys sharing his life with his fans through Instagram, where he has 100,000 followers. His handle is @ha1962anukuha. His posts often include snippets from his movies, behind-the-scenes shots, and personal moments.
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