Nollywood Mourns as Veteran Actor Olu Jacobs Dies at 84
Nollywood icon Olu Jacobs has passed away at 84, leaving behind a profound legacy in Nigerian and British entertainment. His illustrious career, significant contributions to film and theatre, and battle with dementia are remembered amidst an outpouring of tributes from family, colleagues, and public figures.
Veteran Nigerian actor and theatre practitioner Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84. His death was announced on Wednesday, September 16, by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, in a family statement that described him as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle, while affectionately referring to him as “The Lion of Lufodo.”
Jacobs’ death marks the end of a career spanning more than five decades, taking him from British repertory theatre and television to Nigerian stage productions and the film industry that became Nollywood.
Born on July 11, 1942, to Egba-Alake parents from Abeokuta, Ogun State, Jacobs developed an interest in drama and debating during his childhood in Kano, later inspired by a performance by theatre pioneer Hubert Ogunde.
He moved to Britain in 1964 and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) before working extensively in British theatre and television, with credits including A Taste of Honey, Night and Day, The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part and The Professionals, as well as international films including The Dogs of War.
After returning to Nigeria, he became one of the country’s most recognisable screen actors, appearing in more than 100 Nigerian films and becoming particularly associated with authoritative roles such as kings, patriarchs, traditional rulers and political figures.
A Legacy Beyond the Screen
Jacobs received numerous honours, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007, the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016, and the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
He and fellow veteran actor Joke Silva, whom he married in 1985, co-founded the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to theatre, film production and the training of younger performers; in 2022, the Lagos State Government entrusted the group with managing Glover Memorial Hall.
Jacobs’ later years were affected by dementia with Lewy bodies, a diagnosis Silva disclosed publicly in 2021, and his declining health led to repeated false reports of his death before his family confirmed his passing this time.
He is survived by Joke Silva, his sons Olusoji and Olugbenga, grandchildren, and extended family. Tributes have already begun pouring in from colleagues and public figures, including actor Emeka Ike and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.