Desmond Elliot (born Desmond Oluwashola Elliot; 4 February 1974) is a Nigerian actor, director, and politician who has starred in over two hundred films and a number of television shows and soap operas.
He won best supporting actor in a drama at the 2nd Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and was nominated for best supporting actor at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards. He was elected as a lawmaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Surulere Constituency, in the 11 April 2015 Nigerian General Elections.
Elliot was born to a Yoruba father from Olowogbowo in Lagos Island, Lagos and a mother from Illah in Oshimili North, Delta State; He received his primary education at Air Force Primary School and later attended St John's College, both in Jos. He studied economics at Lagos State University and graduated in 2003.
Elliot was influenced by a friend to become an actor. He started playing roles in soap operas like Everyday People, One Too Much and Saints and Sinners. He is one of Nollywood's leading actors, having appeared in over two hundred films including Men Who Cheat, Yahoo Millionaire and Atlanta. In 2006, he was nominated for the African Movie Academy Award for "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" in the movie "Behind closed doors".
In 2008 Elliot co-produced and co-directed the movie "Reloaded" which received 3 nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009. In 2009 and 2010, Elliot was nominated for the Best Actor category at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
Also in 2010, Elliot has been competing to become the ambassador for the Face of Hope Project, a "volunteer-based non-profit, non-religious, non-political organization established to give hope to the hopeless", in which he will work toward fixing "child illiteracy in Nigeria and Africa at large" if he is the victor. In 2014, he was nominated for the African Movie Academy Award for "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" in the movie "Finding Mercy."
Elliot declared his intentions in September 2014 to run for Lagos State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress. He contested and won the Surulere Constituency in the 11 April 2015 Nigerian General Elections.
In October 2020, during the End SARS protest, Desmond was bashed for allegedly supporting Anti-Social Media Bill in Nigeria; a scenario he earlier denied when the news first filtered in via the social media.
In a viral video circulating all over the internet, he was seen vehemently criticizing social media users and influencers and stating that if the Nigerian state doesn't stop social media, social media will destroy the Nigerian state.
Elliot is married to Victoria Elliot and has four children. He is involved in public relations for Globacom.
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