Ngo Okafor
Ngoli Onyeka Okafor // โ(born December 30, 1974) is an American-born Nigerian actor, former boxer and model who is arguably the internet's most downloaded black male model. Okafor is currently living in New York, New York.[1][2]
Ngo Okafor | |
---|---|
Born | Ngoli Onyeka Okafor December 30, 1974 |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Alma mater | University of Connecticut |
Occupations | |
Years active | 2004โpresent |
Organization | Champion Spirit Foundation |
Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
Spouse | Kindra Hanson (2013โpresent) |
Website | ngookafor |
Early life and education
Okafor was born in Framingham, Massachusetts as the second child to a middle-class family when his father was completing his PhD program at Harvard University. His family moved home to Nigeria shortly before Okafor's second birthday. He moved back to the states in the summer of 1994.[3] After completing his basic and secondary school education in Enugu, Nigeria, he proceeded to the University of Connecticut in 1994 where he studied Computer Science before he got employed with the Connecticut Department of Transportation.[3]
Career
Modeling
After losing his job as an I.T specialist at the Connecticut Department of Transportation, Ngo took to modelling and has since gone on to be featured on cover pages of notable magazines like Fortune, Vogue, W, ESPN Magazine and The Source.[4]
Boxing
Ngo's boxing career began in October 2005 at the age of 31 after he developed interest in the sport while doing simple workouts at a boxing gym. He participated and won two back-to-back Golden Gloves Championships in 2008 and 2009.[5]
Acting
Ngo began acting after being involved with T.V commercials and has gone on to star in movies, soaps and television series including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, One Life to Live and Oxford Gardens.[1]
Filmography
Films
- Phat Girlz (2006)
- Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (2011)
- A Dog Named Gary (2012)
- True Story (2015)
- Oxford Gardens (2015)
TV series
- One Life to Live (2006)
- Six Degrees (2007)
- Kings (2009)
- CollegeHumor Originals (2011)
- The Six (2011)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2012)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2018)
References
- Nkoju, Benjamin (9 December 2011). "Boxing was a way for me to live my childhood dream". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- "Nigeria's Top 10 Sexiest Men". Global Excellence. 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- Edozien, Glory (6 January 2012). "Meet Ngoli "NGO" Okafor: Two Time Golden Glove Winner and the Most Downloaded African American Black Male Model- Exclusive Pictures and Interview". BellaNaija. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- Sheinbaum, Hilary (30 April 2015). "Meet Ngo Okafor: Model, Actor, Boxer, Trainer, & Fitness Star". Yahoo Beauty. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- Brume, Suzanne (12 December 2010). "Interview with Ngo Okafor: "I can be Anything I Want to Be"". Eights and Weights. Retrieved 16 December 2015.