Some actors’ characters on the big screen become bigger than their names of birth. Some are simply adored for their talent, while some are adored for their looks. But for some others, it’s both. And MacArthur Fom was one of those.
Before Ramsey Nouah became Nollywood’s poster loverboy for his good looks which ultimately landed him uncontested movie roles, millions of movie lovers had worshipped the ground Fom walked on.
Fom was born in Otukpo in Benue State and had his primary education at Our Lady of Apostle. He also attended Township School in Jos. Between 1976 and 1989, he had his secondary education and studied Mass Communication at Unijos. He started acting in primary school, playing the role of Angel Gabriel during a Christmas Carol and later joined the drama society in secondary school, where he became president.
In the mid 80s, Fom starred as Nosa in Behind the Clouds, one of a bevy of soap operas that dominated the airwaves at a time NTA held a monopoly over television broadcasting in Nigeria.
The drama series told the story of families living in Jos, with the Okonzua family being the most popular. This was due to Zack Amata‘s impeccable acting as a stern father who defiantly stood against his daughter Efe’s (Evelyn Ikuenobe-Otaigbe) music career. Efe’s younger brother Nosa, as well as their caring mother, Adesuwa (played by Franca Brown), were however, in total support of her chosen career path.
As Nosa, Fom made many women’s hearts to fluster. He was young, handsome and soft-spoken. He was a damn good actor, too.
His character’s love affair with Zainab on Behind The Clouds got many fans talking. In one of the most memorable scenes, Nosa was left with no choice but to wear Zainab’s clothes so as to escape her house after her parents returned home unexpectedly.
Fom was asked about the onscreen chemistry, and in what would turn out to be his last interview, he told The Standard newspaper reporters, Kunle Ojeleye and Kunle Alabi, “People, and sometimes the press marry actors and actresses. So also are friends who might feel that you should start thinking of the person you are acting with as being the best for you. In our case, while such pressures have come from here and there, our love relationship is limited to the stage. In reality, we hardly see each other after location and shooting. Besides, we are good friends and we know each other’s spouses.”
And just when viewers had become attached to his character and good looks, the cold hands of death struck. News made the rounds that MacArthur Fom had passed away due to complications from cerebral meningitis.
The entire country was shell-shocked. Women wailed and men gnashed their teeth, it seemed as if the mourners had lost a very dear family member. The shock of Fom’s passing didn’t immediately wear off, even for the cast of the show. Behind The Clouds was never the same and was pulled off the air shortly after, although Nosa’s passing was written into the script.
He (Nosa) was referred to as dead for the rest of Behind The Clouds’ run, though the cause of death was never mentioned. On Papa Efe’s (Zack Amata) return in one memorable episode of the show, he asked after Nosa from his wife, Adesuwa, who simply replied with “it’s a long story”, just as the scene cut to a commercial. After the commercial break, a distraught Adesuwa was only shown weeping while a visibly sad Papa Efe’s comforting hand was on her shoulder.
It was impossible to replace Fom and the show inevitably lost steam.
Fom attracted adoration from millions of people across the country and we are only left to wonder what could’ve been, if the messenger of death had been kinder to the young, handsome and blossoming actor.