The Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor was born to Nigerian parents with successful medical careers. However, the actor’s father is no longer in this world to cherish his success- his dad died in an accident when he was 11 years old.
After his father’s demise, his mother, Obiajulu, raised him and his three siblings as a single mother. All of Chiwetel’s siblings are now successful in their own right.
His older brother is an entrepreneur, one of his sisters is a news anchor, and the other is a doctor.
Having made his TV debut in 1995, Ejiofor, a CBE honoree, has over 55 acting credits. Some of his notable film appearances include 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Martian (2015), Doctor Strange (2016), and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
Moreover, he worked on numerous TV series, including Trust, Dancing on the Edge, and The Man Who Fell to Earth.
In 2024, Ejiofor landed a role in another superhero film, Venom: The Last Dance, where he portrays Orwell Taylor alongside Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, and Peggy Lu.
Key Takeaways:
- Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor was born to Nigerian parents, Arinze Ejiofor and Obiajulu Ejiofor, of Igbo descent.
- Arinze and Obiajulu moved to England and welcomed four children.
- Ejiofor was 11 years old when he lost his father, Arinze, in 1988 in an accident; he was a survivor of the crash.
- The actor grew up with his three siblings: Zain Ejiofor Asher, Kandi, and Obinze.
Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Parents Had Medical Careers: Late Doctor Father And Pharmacist Mother
The British Academy Film Award recipient was born on July 19, 1977, in Forest Gate, London, England, to Nigeran parents of Igbo descent, Arinze Ejiofor and Obiajulu Ejiofor.
Both his parents were involved in the medical field. His late father, Arzine, was a doctor, while his mother worked as a pharmacist. Chiwetel’s mom was born in the Nigerian village of Oyofo-Oghe in 1952 and later moved to England to pursue her medical career.
As reported, Ejiofor’s parents met at 16 in Nigeria, where his father doubled as a doctor and pop star. After the Biafran war began, his dad and mom, who were in their 20s, moved to England and settled in London.
Chiwetel’s father, Arinze, prequalified as a doctor and later earned a PhD in biochemistry and physiology, while his mother became a pharmacist.
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Chiwetel Ejiofor Lost His Father At A Young Age
Ejiofor was only 11 when he lost his father in a tragic accident. In 1998, the Endgame actor and his dad were on a trip to Nigeria for a wedding. After the celebration, the father-son duo were driving to Lagos when their car crashed head-on with a lorry.
The actor suffered from broken bones and a coma at the time. Despite serious injuries, Ejiofor survived and was the only survivor of the horrific accident.
Sadly, his father and three other passengers lost their lives. The whole family was traumatized by the loss of their beloved member, Arinze. Ejiofor has also talked about it and remembered his father in various interviews.
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Chiwetel Ejiofor Has Three Siblings: What Do They Do?
Ejiofor was raised in a sound family with his three siblings, sisters Zain Ejiofor Asher and Kandi, and an older brother named Obinze. The Ejiofor siblings share a strong bond and support each other.
Sister Zain Is A News Anchor
Ejiofor’s sister, Zain, is an experienced news anchor at CNN International and co-anchors One World with Zain and Bianna. She joined CNN in 2013 after working as a freelance reporter at News 12 Brooklyn and Money.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she completed her BA in French and Spanish from the University of Oxford in 2005. Then, she enrolled at Columbia University – Graduate School of Journalism and obtained her master’s in broadcast journalism in 2006.
Sister Kandi Is A Doctor
Ejiofor’s other sister, Kandi, is a general practitioner doctor at NHS. Previously, she was a clinical director at GP Pathfinder Clinics (2022-24). An alum of Imperial College London with an MBBS degree (class of 2013), Kandi is also the founder of MyAdvocates, which provides health and wellbeing services.
She is married to Dele Arogundade, and they are the proud parents of three children.
Besides being a doctor, she is also into business and owns a maternal clothing line, Kara Bloom.
Chiwetel’s Brother, Obinze, Is An Entrepreneur
Similarly, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s older brother Obinze is a successful entrepreneur. He graduated from the University of Reading with a Biochemistry and Physiology degree in 1996. According to his LinkedIn profile, Obizine is the director of Self Service (2003—present) and TWIIN (2019—present).
From 2002 to 2003, he was director of the multi-brand fashion boutique Gloss in Kings Road, London.
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