Desmond Elliot (born Desmond Oluwashola Elliot; 4 February 1974) is a Nigerian actor, director, and politician who has starred in over two hundred films and a number of television shows and soap operas. He won best supporting actor in a drama at the 2nd Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards and was nominated for best supporting actor at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards. He was elected as a lawmaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Surulere Constituency, in the 11 April 2015 Nigerian General Elections
Elliot was born to a Yoruba father from Olowogbowo in Lagos Island, Lagos and a mother from Illah in Oshimili North, Delta State; He received his primary education at Air Force Primary School and later attended St John's College, both in Jos. In 2003 he graduated from Lagos State University where he studied Economics.
Elliot was influenced by a friend to become an actor.[6] He started playing roles in soap operas like Everyday People, One Too Much and Saints and Sinners. He is one of Nollywood's leading actors, having appeared in over two hundred films including Men Who Cheat, Yahoo Millionaire and Atlanta In 2008 Elliot co-produced and co-directed the movie "Reloaded" which received 3 nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009. In 2009 and 2010, Elliot was nominated for the Best Actor category at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Also in 2010, Elliot has been competing to become the ambassador for the Face of Hope Project, a "volunteer-based non-profit, non-religious, non-political organization established to give hope to the hopeless", in which he will work toward fixing "child illiteracy in Nigeria and Africa at large" if he is the victor.