Joseph Momodu recently surprised many fans after announcing that he had officially joined the United States Army. The Nollywood actor revealed that he completed a 10-week Basic Combat Training programme and is now serving as a Specialist (SPC), marking a major change from life on movie sets to military service.
While the news caught many by surprise, Momodu is not the first Nollywood star to take this path. In recent years, a number of Nigerian actors and actresses who relocated to the United States have chosen military service, leaving behind successful careers in entertainment.
Here are four Nollywood actors who traded movie roles for military uniforms.
Joseph Momodu becomes the latest Nollywood actor to join the US Army
Joseph Momodu is the latest Nollywood actor to begin a new career in the United States military.
The actor, model and producer announced on June 26, 2026, that he had completed a 10-week Basic Combat Training programme at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He enlisted in the US Army on April 12, 2026, and now serves as a Specialist (SPC) with the 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 3-10, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment.
Momodu said he deliberately chose April 12 as his enlistment date because it marked 20 years since the death of his father, a former officer in the Nigeria Police Force. According to him, joining the military was his way of continuing his father’s legacy of service.
Before putting on the military uniform, Momodu built a successful acting career that lasted more than a decade. He appeared in movies such as The Black Book, The Covenant, Coming to Nigeria, Play 2 Killand A Bag of Trouble. He also featured in TV series including Tinsel, The Johnsons, Soul Sisters and Inspector K. Many fans also remember him as the lead actor in Simi’s hit music video, Joromi.
Known for his impressive physique, Momodu won the Africa Movie Academy Awards’ Best Body Male title in both 2018 and 2019. He has described completing military training as the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his life.
Princess Chineke answered the call to serve
Former beauty queen and Nollywood actress Princess Chineke is another Nigerian entertainer who left acting to join the US Army.
After relocating to the United States, Chineke enlisted in the military and announced the milestone on Instagram. She said she was proud to answer the call to serve her adopted country.
In her announcement, she wrote: “I’m an American soldier. I’m a member of a team. We are the Army and proud of our name. I answered the call of service to my country, to serve the people of the United States of America.”
Before moving abroad, Chineke built a career in Nollywood with roles in films such as To Love A Sister, Stormy Hearts, Masters at War and Last Flight to Abuja. She also appeared in the popular TV series Battleground.
She once explained that she relocated to the United States to further her education and gain more skills. Joining the US Army became another major achievement in her journey.
Mayowa Dosu swapped movie roles for military service
Actress and film producer Mayowa Dosu also chose a different path after relocating to the United States by joining the US Army.
She shared the news on Instagram after completing her military training, revealing that she had become an American soldier. Looking back on her journey, Dosu described the experience as challenging but rewarding.
“Oops!! What a journey,” she wrote before adding, “Sorry I was busy being an American soldier.”
Before her career change, Dosu had built a name for herself in Nollywood as both an actress and producer. She began acting in 2005 and appeared in films including Fears, Mamami, Mojere, Compromise, Pawon Strippers, Lastlaugh and Valentino.
Her move into military service added her to the growing list of Nollywood stars who have started new careers in the United States.
Grace-Charis Bassey joined the US Navy
Unlike the others on this list, former Nollywood actress Grace-Charis Bassey joined the United States Navy instead of the Army.
The actress, formerly known as Belinda Effah, announced in 2026 that she had graduated from US Navy boot camp. She also revealed that she took the oath of US citizenship, making the occasion even more special.
Bassey thanked God, her family and supporters for standing by her throughout the journey. She dedicated the achievement to her late father, Naval Commander Asido Bassey Effah.
Before stepping away from Nollywood, Bassey enjoyed a successful acting career and won several awards. She later changed her name from Belinda Effah to Grace-Charis Bassey, saying the decision followed a personal spiritual experience and marked a fresh start in her life.
Although she joined a different branch of the military, her story is another example of how some Nollywood stars have embraced new opportunities after relocating to the United States.
Why are more Nollywood actors joining the US military?
The decision by Joseph Momodu, Princess Chineke, Mayowa Dosu and Grace-Charis Bassey to join the US military has sparked conversations among fans.
While each actor has a different story, they all moved to the United States before starting their military careers. Some have said they wanted to serve their adopted country, while others described it as the beginning of a new chapter in life.
Military service in the United States also offers career growth, professional training, education opportunities, healthcare benefits and other long-term support that attract many immigrants looking for a stable future.
For these former Nollywood stars, joining the military did not erase what they achieved in the movie industry. Instead, it opened the door to a completely different career and a new way of serving society.
Conclusion
Joseph Momodu’s enlistment has once again shined a light on the growing number of Nollywood actors who have chosen military service after relocating to the United States. While their reasons may differ, each of them has shown that life after the spotlight can take an unexpected turn.
From Joseph Momodu’s move into the US Army to Princess Chineke and Mayowa Dosu’s military journeys, and Grace-Charis Bassey’s decision to join the US Navy, these former Nollywood stars have proved that it is possible to build a successful second career beyond entertainment.
