Veteran Nigerian actor Dele Odule has revealed that he once became so overwhelmed by frustration and hopelessness that he went to a coffin seller to price his own casket.

Odule, a respected figure in Yoruba-language cinema, made the disclosure in an interview with Feelright TV, where he spoke candidly about a period in his life when he felt completely defeated by his circumstances.

He recounted that he was not physically ill at the time. Instead, he was battling deep emotional and psychological distress, driven largely by a sense of professional stagnation and comparison with his peers.

Speaking in Yoruba during the interview, Odule said he had reached “a state of hopelessness, a complete loss of hope” and decided to visit a casket showroom. He was accompanied by fellow actor Olaiya Igwe, who, according to Odule, broke down in tears when he realised what was happening.

“I had priced my own casket before, when I was in a state of hopelessness and complete loss of hope. Olaiya Igwe went there with me. Olaiya started crying like a baby,” Odule recalled.

He explained that his despair stemmed from feeling left behind in an industry where many of his contemporaries appeared to be thriving while he struggled to find his footing.

“I wasn’t sick, I just believed I could no longer have breakthroughs in the industry. I was fed up. All my schoolmates were doing far better than me and my life was nothing to write home about,” he said.

Odule began acting in the 1970s and later gained widespread recognition through his role in the classic Yoruba film Ti Oluwa Nile, a landmark production that cemented his status as one of the leading figures in indigenous Nigerian cinema.

His revelation adds to a growing number of public figures in Nigeria who are speaking openly about mental health, depression and the pressures of success. By sharing his story, Odule has drawn attention to the emotional toll of an unpredictable entertainment industry, where fame often masks private struggles.

The actor’s account has resonated with many fans, who see it as a stark reminder that even celebrated performers can face moments of deep vulnerability and despair.