Patrick Doyle, a veteran actor and broadcaster from Nollywood, is heartbroken by the death of his newborn daughter, Omayinuwa Mayen Harriet Doyle. He and his new wife, Funmilayo, had just announced her birth a few hours earlier. The newborn girl died on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at about 4:15 pm, less than a day after she was born on Friday, April 10, 2026, at about 10:40 am.
The actor first went on Facebook on Saturday to talk about how happy he was at the birth of his daughter and how thankful he was to God. “To the glory of God, I announce the beautiful addition of a female child to my quiver. At about 10:40 AM yesterday, Omayinuwa Mayen Harriet Doyle was born. In his first declaration, he wrote, “Mother and child are doing well, and daddy is overwhelmed with joy and thanks to God Almighty.”
But gradually, happiness faded to sadness. The 65-year-old actor announced the sad news in a Facebook post on Sunday. “Omayinuwa came to see us for a short time on Friday, April 10th, at around 10:40 am. He went back to paradise on Saturday, April 11th, at around 4:15 pm. Her visit was short, but it made her very happy. “We would have liked to stay longer, but heaven had other plans,” he wrote.
Even though it was a tragedy, Doyle kept a strong faith-based view. “This much we do know: God is still in charge of what happens to people. No matter what, we still believe that God is good. Sibe’ sibe’ Oluwa n’be’. He added, “It is well with our soul,” which is a Yoruba term that means “The Lord is present quietly.”
No one has said what killed the baby. Doyle’s new wife, Funmilayo, had the baby. They got married in a ceremony that went viral on the internet in 2023. Funmilayo, who was 27 when they got married in June 2025, is said to operate Funmidee Cuisines, a company that provides private chef services and event catering. Doyle had said before that she was a mother, friend, and partner in his life.
The actor’s marriage to Funmilayo happened after his 20-year marriage to Ireti Doyle, another Nollywood actress, ended. In an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo on WithChude in 2023, Ireti acknowledged their divorce by saying, “We are officially divorced.” The pair, who got married on December 21, 2004, have kids together.
Doyle’s first wife, Rosamond Ndidi Doyle, died in 1999 from sickle cell illness. The actor has had a long and successful career in Nigeria’s film and television business. He is well known for his appearances in movies like “After 30.” The name Omayinuwa, which means “child who knows the way” in Edo language, had a lot of meaning for the family.
Friends and fans from the entertainment business have been sending the actor’s family thoughts and condolences on social media.
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