Toheeb Jimoh is a British-Nigerian actor who has quickly become one of the most recognizable young talents in television and film. He is best known for playing Sam Obisanya, the thoughtful and principled Nigerian footballer, in the hit Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso. His performance in the show earned him an Emmy nomination and helped introduce him to a global audience.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Toheeb Gbolabo O. Jimoh |
| Date of Birth | 15 April 1997 |
| Place of Birth | Brixton, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| State of Origin | Nigeria (Yoruba ethnicity) |
| Partner | Wawa (girlfriend) |
| Children | N/A |
| Occupations | Actor (stage, television, film) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1–3 million (2026) |
Early Life and Education
Toheeb Gbolabo O. Jimoh was born on 15 April 1997 in Brixton, South London. His parents are of Yoruba Nigerian descent, and the family moved to Nigeria when he was a toddler. He spent his early childhood there before returning to London at around age seven.
Growing up between two cultures, Nigerian traditions and British urban life deeply shaped his identity and artistic perspective. He attended The Norwood School in South London for his secondary education, where he first discovered his passion for performance.
As a teenager, Jimoh worked multiple part-time jobs to support his acting ambitions, including ushering at the Young Vic Theatre and working in a school uniform shop. He later trained at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating with a BA in Acting in 2018.
Career
Jimoh made his on-screen debut in 2015 with a role in the short film Lia. After graduating from Guildhall, he continued to build his stage credentials before landing his breakthrough role in 2020 as Sam Obisanya in Ted Lasso.
The role was a perfect fit: Jimoh worked closely with the show’s creators to adjust Sam’s backstory to reflect his own Nigerian heritage, even incorporating Yoruba dialogue into the series.
His portrayal of a young athlete navigating fame, cultural identity, and personal integrity resonated with audiences worldwide and catapulted him into the international spotlight.
Following the success of Ted Lasso, Jimoh took on several high-profile projects. He joined the cast of HBO and BBC’s Industry as Kwabena Bannerman, an ambitious young banker navigating the cutthroat world of finance in London.
He also appeared in Amazon Prime’s The Power as Darrell, a sci-fi series based on Naomi Alderman’s novel, and played Anthony Walker in the BBC biopic Anthony, which tells the true story of a young Black man murdered in a racially motivated attack.
Additionally, he had a supporting role in Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch. Jimoh continues to take on challenging roles that reflect his commitment to authenticity and representation, and as of 2026, he remains a rising star with several projects in development.
Personal Life
Toheeb Jimoh is in a relationship with Wawa, an environmental justice advocate. He made the relationship public in May 2026 when they attended the Charles Finch filmmakers dinner at the Cannes Film Festival. Before that, Jimoh kept his dating life private, saying he preferred to focus on his acting career.
He identifies strongly with his Yoruba Nigerian heritage and growing up in Brixton’s multicultural community. Jimoh also advocates for greater representation of Black British and African diaspora stories in film and television.
Net Worth
As of 2026, Toheeb Jimoh’s estimated net worth is between $1 million and $3 million. This figure comes primarily from his roles in Ted Lasso, Industry, and other television and film projects.
Filmography
His notable film and television credits include:
- Lia (2015) – Short film
- Ted Lasso (2020–2023) – Sam Obisanya
- Anthony (2021) – Anthony Walker
- Industry (2020–present) – Kwabena Bannerman
- The French Dispatch (2021) – Supporting role
- The Power (2023) – Darrell
Awards and Nominations
Jimoh’s work on Ted Lasso earned him several major accolades:
- Primetime Emmy Award (2022): Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Screen Actors Guild Award (2022): Won for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Ted Lasso)
- Screen Actors Guild Award (2024): Nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Ted Lasso)
- Hollywood Critics Association Award (2022): Nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy (Ted Lasso)
He also received a Breakthrough Award at the Critics’ Choice Awards as part of the Ted Lasso ensemble.
