Veteran Nollywood actor and playwright, Peter Fatomilola, has opened up about the generosity of content creator and actor, Debo Adedayo, popularly referred to as Mr Macaroni, recounting two separate occasions where the comic-turned-thespian paid him far beyond what he was contracted for on set.
Speaking during an interview with Africa Magic, the 80-year-old actor, famed for his priest and herbalist roles in Nollywood classics such as *Sango* and *Papa Ajasco*, said Mr Macaroni’s kindness stood out sharply against the industry’s usual pay standards.
According to Fatomilola, the first encounter happened after he wrapped two scenes on a set where Mr Macaroni was also working. Rather than simply moving on, Mr Macaroni personally walked him to his car and, without being asked, offered him money for fuel.
“Mr Macaroni saw me on set one day, I just finished the two scenes I was called for and he escorted me to my car, he offered to give me fuel money and handed me 200k. Even the person that called me for job for those two scenes only gave me 50k,” Fatomilola said.
The veteran actor noted that the amount handed to him by Mr Macaroni was four times what he had been paid by the production for the actual job, an act he described as unusual in an industry where veteran actors are often underpaid despite their experience and legacy.
Fatomilola disclosed that the encounter wasn’t a one-off. On another occasion, Mr Macaroni called him in for a job alongside fellow Nollywood legend, Pete Edochie. For that appearance, which Fatomilola says involved just one scene, he was paid an even more staggering sum.
“Macaroni still called me for another job with Pete Edochie another day and gave me 1 million Naira for just a scene,” he added.
The revelation has continued to generate reactions online, with many Nigerians praising Mr Macaroni for his respect and generosity toward older actors in the industry, a demographic that has, over the years, spoken openly about being sidelined or poorly compensated in a fast-changing Nollywood landscape increasingly dominated by younger stars and social media influencers.
As Nollywood continues to grapple with conversations around fair pay, particularly for veteran actors, Fatomilola’s account is a reminder of how far personal generosity can go in an industry where structured, standardised pay for legacy talents often remains elusive.
