William Benson is a Nigerian actor, playwright, and stage/film director whose career spans more than three decades across theatre, television, and Nollywood cinema. Trained as a thespian in the 1990s, he built his reputation on Lagos stages with acclaimed productions like “Saro the Musical” and “Adesewa the Musical,” while also directing stage works such as “Jungle Justice.” On television, Benson broke out to mainstream audiences as the formidable General Apeh in Africa Magic’s telenovela “Ajoche,” followed by notable turns in “Unbroken.” His feature film credits include “The Herbert Macaulay Affair” (2019), where he portrays the Nigerian nationalist, “Love Is War” (2019), “Obara’M” (2022), “All’s Fair in Love” (2024), “The Fire & The Moth,” and “Dead Tide” (2025). In 2025, he drew fresh acclaim on Netflix as Efe in Kemi Adetiba’s hit crime thriller “To Kill a Monkey.”
An imposing screen presence with theatre-honed range, Benson is frequently cast in intense, emotionally charged roles, leaders, anti-heroes, and historical figures, making him a go-to performer for prestige dramas and epics.