Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
Jacobs’ death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, on Instagram on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with the family describing the acclaimed thespian as “The Lion of Lufodo” and asking the public and media to respect its privacy.
“It is with gratitude to God for a life well lived and fought, that we announce the passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather and uncle. The Lion of Lufodo,” the statement read.
The family gave his dates as July 11, 1942, to September 16, 2026, and appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect its privacy during the mourning period.
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs built a career spanning stage, television and film, both in Nigeria and abroad. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before working with repertory theatre companies in Britain and appearing in British television productions and international films.
His early international credits included appearances in British television productions such as The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals. He also featured in films including The Dogs of War, Pirates and Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend.
Jacobs later returned to Nigeria and became one of the defining figures of the country’s developing film and theatre industry.
His career in Nigeria included more than 100 film roles, while the Lufodo Group, which he co-founded with his wife, fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, has been involved in film production, distribution and performing arts training.
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His contribution to African cinema earned him major industry recognition. In 2007, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Dancing Heart.
He subsequently received the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from AMAA in 2016.
In recognition of his contribution to Nigeria, Jacobs was also conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011.
Beyond his screen career, Jacobs was closely associated with the development of professional theatre and film training in Nigeria.
Through Lufodo, he and Silva established platforms for production and performing arts education, further extending their influence beyond acting.
Jacobs and Silva were married for decades and became one of Nigeria’s best-known acting couples. They worked together across theatre, television and film and co-founded the Lufodo Group.
His death comes after years away from the public spotlight. In 2021, Silva disclosed that her husband had been living with dementia with Lewy bodies, a condition that had affected his health and contributed to his withdrawal from acting.
Jacobs had also previously been the subject of false death reports, including claims debunked by his family and the Actors Guild of Nigeria. His family’s latest announcement, however, confirms his death at 84.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Jacobs leaves behind a body of work across British television, international cinema, Nigerian film and theatre, as well as a legacy of mentorship and institution-building within the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Crediblenewsng.com
