This multi-talented entertainer was born Olusegun Arinzechukwu Aina-Padonou to a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother, Bamidele and Lydia Aina-Padonou. Segun Arinze, as he is popularly known, trained as an actor at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, and under an American director, Chuk Mike. He started his professional career with the Anansa Playhouse, under Bassey Effiong, in 1985. And since then, he has not looked back.
As a kid, he realized his dream of being behind the cameras in Ilorin, Kwara State, when he first appeared on Youth Scene in 1979. He cut his first teeth on stage with Ken Saro Wiwa’s Transistor Radio and went further in 1985 to have a shot on television with Tade Ogidan’s Boys Next Door on NTA and in 1987, he had his first shot on cine with Afolabi Afolayan’s Vigilante. The rest, as they say, is history.
Segun, in his 50s, could easily be described as a house of talent – because he moves effortlessly from singing to dancing, writing, directing, producing and voice over. He has swum the whole gamut of entertainment and has today become an enigma and a recurring decimal in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
He left an indelible mark in the minds of movie viewers with his portrayal of Black Arrow in the blockbuster, Silent Night. He is also, no doubt, one of the biggest names in the movie industry right now. As a matter of fact, opinion poll rates him as one of the most popular actors in Nigeria. In 1992, he released his debut album, Dreams, on Premier Music label. The album was critically acclaimed as Segun’s vocal prowess. It was also on showcase as he went on to become a nominee for the Best Male Vocalist at the FAME MUSIC AWARDS and AMEN AWARDS.
As a talk show host, he left no one in doubt about his talents. Viewers were held spellbound with his talk show, No Holds Barred, where eminent guests appeared and discussed issues ranging from politics, sports to entertainment. The show ran for seasons on AIT network. Segun has starred in over 100 movies and featured in countless stage plays. He equally has a large fan base. He is married to Julie and blessed with six children, three of them from his previous relationships.