Jim Iyke, born James Ikechukwu Esomugha on 25 September 1976 in Libreville, Gabon, is a celebrated Nigerian actor, producer, model, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

He hails from Ogwugwu Village, Enugwu-Agidi in Anambra State, Nigeria, and is the only male among eight children. After completing his early education, he earned a Diploma in Banking & Finance and a BSc in Philosophy from the University of Jos.

Jim Iyke launched his acting career in 1998, quickly becoming one of Nollywood’s highest-paid actors, starring in over 150 films, including notable hits like Last Flight to Abuja (2012), American Driver (2017), Stalker (2016), and the Merry Men franchise.

As a multi-faceted entrepreneur, Jim Iyke founded Untamed Productions (film) and Untamed Records (music), producing his own album Who Am I?, which featured major Nigerian artists such as 2Face Idibia and Sound Sultan. He also ventures into fashion, real estate, auto, oil & gas, and runs a philanthropic initiative, the Jim Iyke Foundation.

Widely known in the media as “Nollywood’s Bad Boy,” Jim Iyke is also a trendsetter in style and personality. He’s won accolades like Net Honours’ Most Searched Actor (2021), and his career trajectory continues with high-profile projects such as a multi-million-dollar Amazon-linked film production currently in development.