A cybercrime kingpin with a swagger that hides quiet loneliness is not an easy character to pull off, but Bucci Franklin turned that exact role into the moment his career changed for good. His performance as Oboz in Netflix’s “To Kill a Monkey” has made him one of the most talked-about actors in Nigeria in 2025 and 2026, even though he had already spent nearly two decades building toward it.
Quick Facts
| Date of Birth | June 9, 1986 |
|---|---|
| Age | 40 years |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Occupation | Actor, Model, On-Air Personality |
| Net Worth | $150,000 – $400,000 |
| Full Name | Onyebuchi Franklin Odurukwe |
| State of Origin | Nkwerre, Imo State |
| Alma Mater | University of Abuja |
| Known For | Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story, To Kill a Monkey |
| Partner | Sunshine Rosman (reportedly) |
Biography
Bucci Franklin was born Onyebuchi Franklin Odurukwe on June 9, 1986, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, though his family traces its roots to Nkwerre in Imo State. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Abuja, where he reportedly picked up a Best Actor award during his time on campus. That early recognition pointed him toward a stage and screen career long before Nollywood came calling.
His first real break into media came through radio rather than film. Franklin worked as one of the pioneer on-air personalities for Love FM 104.5 in Abuja, co-anchoring the station’s Morning Show and hosting a program called Abuja on the Move for five years. He also fronted a television show titled Rising Stars for two years and helped pioneer a lifestyle TV magazine on Africa Independent Television, all while co-founding a community newspaper, the Garki Gazette. That broadcasting background gave him a public presence in Abuja well before Lagos-based Nollywood productions started casting him regularly.
Bucci Franklin’s Career in Nollywood
Franklin’s acting résumé stretches back over a decade, with early credits including Knockout Blessing, Kofa, and Rule Number One in 2018. But in an interview with Rubbin’ Minds on Channels Television, Franklin identified 2020’s Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story, in which he played Nze Okoli alongside Stan Nze and Osas Ighodaro under Ramsey Nouah’s direction, as the film that genuinely redefined his career. He told the show that prior to Rattlesnake, he took on any role offered to him, but the film’s success meant he and his management team had to become far more selective about the projects they accepted afterward.
That selectiveness eventually delivered his biggest role yet. In “To Kill a Monkey,” Franklin plays Oboz, a former campus cultist turned cybercrime kingpin who pulls his old friend Efemini back into a dangerous underworld. Critics have praised the performance for balancing outward charisma with an undercurrent of isolation, and the role earned Franklin the Best Supporting Actor prize at the 2026 AMVCA. It was also his second major award recognition after an AMAA nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2019 and another nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 2024 AMAA for his work in The Weekend.
Speaking on Rubbin’ Minds, Franklin also addressed the pressure Nollywood actors now feel to build a public brand alongside their craft. He said the shift toward influencing and constant social media visibility initially bothered him, since he entered the industry purely to create characters, but he has since come to accept it as part of doing business in the current era. He name-checked colleagues like Osas Ighodaro and Timini Egbuson as actors who have successfully merged strong on-screen work with an equally strong personal brand.
Franklin has kept a busy slate beyond “To Kill a Monkey.” He mentioned working on a film called The Creek with Toke Makinwa, shot in Port Harcourt, as well as a project with filmmaker Bolanle Austen-Peters and a series with director Kemi Adetiba, all pointing to a workload that shows no sign of slowing down.
Personal Life
Bucci Franklin has kept most details about his personal life private, and he is not known to be married. He is reportedly in a relationship with fellow actress and model Sunshine Rosman, though neither has spoken about the relationship at length in public interviews. Outside acting, Franklin has continued to describe himself as someone who prioritizes his craft over public relations, telling Rubbin’ Minds that he prefers to give everything to a character and leave the promotional strategy to the people who hired him for the job.
Net Worth
A more grounded estimate, built from his actual income streams, puts his net worth somewhere between $150,000 and $400,000 as of 2026.
That range reflects more than a decade of acting fees from both cinema and streaming projects, years of radio and television presenting income from his time at Love FM and AIT, and modeling work that has run alongside his screen career. His AMVCA win for “To Kill a Monkey” and the show’s global Netflix reach are likely to push his profile, and with it his earning power, higher in the coming years, particularly if brand endorsement deals follow the way they have for peers like Osas Ighodaro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bucci Franklin’s real name?
His full name is Onyebuchi Franklin Odurukwe, and Bucci Franklin is his professional stage name.
What role does Bucci Franklin play in To Kill a Monkey?
He plays Oboz, a former campus cultist turned cybercrime kingpin who draws the show’s protagonist into a life of internet fraud.
Is Bucci Franklin married?
No, he is not married. He is reportedly dating actress and model Sunshine Rosman.
What movie is considered Bucci Franklin’s breakout role?
Franklin has said in interviews that Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story (2020) marked the turning point that reshaped his acting career, though To Kill a Monkey brought him his widest audience yet.
Where is Bucci Franklin from?
He was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and hails from Nkwerre in Imo State, Nigeria.
