The Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood, has been thrown into mourning following the death of popular actor, Alex <\/a>Ekubo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Abia Radio News<\/strong> reports that Ekubo died on Monday night at Evercare Hospital, Lekki, Lagos, after battling liver cancer. He was 40.<\/p>\n Former Big Brother Naija star and Director of Communication of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Boma Akpore, confirmed the death to Vanguard<\/a> on Tuesday, saying the actor\u2019s body had been moved to Ebony Vaults in Ikoyi.<\/p>\n A colleague, Godwin Nnadiekwe, also mourned the actor in an Instagram post.<\/p>\n He wrote, \u201cI\u2019m struggling to find the words. This news has truly broken me. Nollywood has lost a rare soul, and I\u2019m lost for words because this wasn\u2019t the plan, Alex <\/a>Ekubo.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Veteran filmmaker, Lancelot Imasuen<\/strong>, who gave Ekubo his first movie role, described the death as \u201cdevastating and unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was how I gave him his first movie role that ushered him into Nollywood,\u201d<\/em> Imasuen recalled.<\/p>\n Following the news, tributes poured in from colleagues, celebrities and fans.<\/p>\n Funke Akindele recalled their bond and the nickname \u201cOre mi,\u201d which Ekubo fondly called her.<\/p>\n Other celebrities, including Bolanle Ninalowo, Peter Okoye, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Omoni Oboli, Mo Abudu, Kate Henshaw, Yvonne Jegede, Kunle Remi and Ruth Kadiri, also mourned the late actor.<\/p>\n