The Nollywood movie industry has been hit with another sudden death, that of veteran actor Justus Esiri. He passed away in his hometown Monday night after a short battle with an undisclosed ailment. A few months ago, Nigerian singer and Mavin record member Dr Sid introduced Justus Esiri as his father. The youngest child of the deceased, his real name is Onoriode Esiri. As at the time of this report, no details have been released regarding Esiri's death but the news, which the family released mere hours ago, has come as a shock to everybody. A source said he had been secretly battling an age related illness for some time but his family chose to make it a secret until his sudden demise Monday night at the age of 71. Last year, over four top Nollywood stars died, including Pete Eneh and Enebeli Elebuwa. Eneh died of untreated leg infection on November 15, 2012 at a private hospital in Enugu while Enebeli Elebuwa died of a stroke on the 4th of December 2012 at a private hospital in New Delhi, India. Just this last week two Nollywood actors died tragically. A source, who claimed the angel of death has visited Nollywood, might be proven correct with the sudden demise of so many top Nigerian movie stars, one after the other, within the past 12 months. Before his death, Justus Esiri was a member of the Order of Niger (MON). He came into the limelight in the early 80's through the popular Village Headmaster TV series. He has also featured in many Nollywood movies. The late Justus Esiri was born in November 1942 in Oria, Abraka, Delta State. His studied at Catholic Secondary School in Warri in 1948 before proceeding to Maximillan University in Munich, Germany, in 1964. He also attended Prof Weners Institute of Engineering in West Berlin, Germany, in 1967 and the Ahrens School of Performing Arts in 1968. His career took a detour into motion picture production in 1968 when he started working for the Schiller Theater in Berlin, where he stayed until 1976. During the 1977 FESTAC held in Lagos, he choreographed the Modern Dress exhibition. He was also the Production Manager for Dinner With The Devil and worked as a news translator and newscaster with the Voice of Nigeria, (German Service.)