Lere Paimo (Real Name: Olalere Osunpaimo, born 19 November 1939; Age: 84 years old) is an outstanding Nigerian actor, filmmaker, producer, and director. He ventured into the entertainment industry in 1960 and although he is still very much alive, he is no longer as active as he used to be.
Also known as Eda Onile Ola, Lere is famous for his roles in Yoruba films such as Anike Olufa (2009), Arugba (2009), Kajola (2005), Agogo èèwò (2002), and Brass Bells (1999). He worked his way up through the ranks to gradually become a leading icon in the Nigerian movie industry. He is believed to be one of the earliest Nigerian actors and has helped in building the movie industry.
Summary of Lere Paimo’s Bio
- Full name: Olalere Osunpaimo
- Nickname: Eda Onile Ola
- Gender: Male
- Date of birth: 19 November 1939
- Lere Paimo’s Age: 84 years old
- Ethnicity: Yoruba
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Married
- Lere Paimo’s Net worth: over $500,000 (estimated)
- Famous for: acting
- Lere Paimo’s Instagram: @lere_paimo
- Facebook: Lere Paimo
Is Lere Paimo Still Alive?
At the time of this writing, Lere Paimo is very much alive. He is 84 years old and has been alive since the years WWII started in 1939 and over 2 decades before Nigeria gained independence.
The legendary filmmaker was born on 19 November 1939 in Ogbomosho, Southern Region, British Nigeria which is now known as Oyo State, Nigeria. The Yoruba native was born to a tobacco and yam farmer father and a trader mother.
He started his education in his native land, Ogbomosho. Subsequently, he headed to Ghana which at the time was called Gold Coast. It was there that he obtained a Teacher’s Grade two certificate. In later years, Lere moved back to his hometown in Ogbomosho and took the job of a teacher in a Baptist Missionary School.
Looking at his private life, Paimo has been married for years and has children with his wife who keeps a private life. Among his children is the oldest, Dele Paimo. He is a gospel singer with a career that started in 2008. In 2015, he released an album titled End Time.
Dele and his legendary actor father share a close relationship.
How Lere Paimo Rose to Prominence
He Acted with Several Theater Groups Before his TV Career
At 21 in 1960, Lere Paimo took a bold step into the entertainment industry as an actor with the Oyin Adejobi theater group. The group was founded by another old stager in acting, Pa Oyinade Adejobi. With the theater group, Pa Paimo acted and toured. Yet, his fame was not enormous.
He later joined another theater group, Ladipo’s Theater Group. It was at that point that his name began to be heard in different parts of the country and this would lead to his traveling the world for his acting prowess.
At the time of his stage performance career, he became famous for his role as Chief B asa in Obamoro.
He Had His Career Breakthrough in 1963
Paimo had his breakthrough role as Soun Ogunola in Ogbori Elemosho in 1963. The film is a historical one and it is about how Ògbómòsó was founded.
Along the line, he gained more fame with another role in Eda, a movie about a wealthy, hardworking, and industrious man. He played the title character in the film and this role led to his being nicknamed Eda Onile Ola.
In the years after, the actor went from not only being an actor to becoming a producer and director. His fame increased in the 1980s and at the time, he was one of the leading filmmakers and actors in Nigeria. Most of the movies he has appeared in pay attention to bringing morals to the society.
Even when many of his contemporaries backed out of acting, he continued to push through, making a name for himself in different generations of actors.
He has appeared in the same works with actors such as Remi Abiola, Segun Adefila, Bimbo Akinsanya, and Rotimi Salami.
He Took a Haitus From the Movie Industry Before Making a Comeback
After many years of making a mark in the entertainment industry, Lere Paimo disappeared from the screen. In a 2017 interview, he claimed that his absence from acting was because he was sidelined in the industry.
According to him, he was denied acting roles because he would not leave the Association of Nigerian Theatres Practitioners (ANTP) which was founded by the late playwright and actor Hubert Ogunde to join the Theatre and Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) which was formed following issues in ANTP.
He made the decision not to join TAMPAN alongside other notable actors who have lasted several decades in the industry, and all of them were sidelined.
While the above was given by Lere as the reason for his absence, there are some suggestions that he may have caused problems in TAMPAN – an allegation he denied.
In any case, the actor made a comeback subsequently and appeared in a series on Galaxy TV. His comeback did not stop him from selecting his roles, as he perceive many modern movies as lacking moral lessons and cultural values.
Yet, he did not fail to nod toward the direction of actor and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan. At the time he made the revelation in 2017, he declared that he was still involved in acting and would love to work with Afolayan.
Well, his dream to film with Afolanyan came to reality in 2020 as he shared an image on his Instagram page on set while working with the filmmaker.
Some of Lere Paimo’s Movies
- Anike Olufa (2009)
- Arugba (2009)
- Ojope (2008)
- Omo Iya Meta (2008)
- Ejika (2008)
- Baba Lukudi (2008)
- Okun Emi (2007)
- Okun Ife Iye (2007)
- Oko Asewo (2007)
- Ayé àjekú (2006)
- Sonibarin (2006)
- The Narrow Path (2006)
- Oro Lanre Pesiji (2005)
- Sade Blade (2005)
- Kajola (2005)
- Eewo Orun (2005)
- Oyin Tokoro (2005)
- Igba Owuro (2005)
- Gbanko Gbi Layé 1&2 (2004)
Lere Paimo has Received One of the Most Prestigious Awards in Nigeria
For his roles and contribution to art in Nigeria, Lere became a Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR). He was awarded by Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005.
The actor received the award at the time with other notable Nigerians, including Aliko Dangote, Sunday Ehindero, Mike Adenuga, Sogo Agboola, and Ebenezer Babatope.
Where is Lere Paimo Today?
The 84-year-old actor is still active in the entertainment industry although his presence in the public is not as it was when he started.
He appeared in some 2022 and 2021 films, including Abablaye which also features Allwell Ademola and Rotimi Salami among other actors. He also appeared in his son’s music video in 2022.
Prior to that, he became an ambassador for Happy Home Builders Ibadan. The company is a real estate developing firm that deals with project management and other professional building and housing services.