Actor, Olu Jacobs dies at 84
Nollywood is mourning the loss of one of the actors who helped shape Nigerian entertainment long before the industry became a global phenomenon.
Veteran actor Olu Jacobs died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the age of 84, with his family confirming his death in a statement shared by his son, Olusoji Jacobs.
The family remembered him as a husband, father, grandfather and uncle, while giving him the title that had followed him through his later years: “The Lion of Lufodo.” They also asked bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy as they mourn.
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 boy from Kano
Born Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs on July 11, 1942, Jacobs grew up in Kano, although his family traced its roots to the Egba Alake community in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
His interest in acting developed while he was still young through school drama, debating and church activities. A performance by celebrated Nigerian theatre practitioner Hubert Ogunde in Kano made a lasting impression on him and strengthened his decision to pursue acting professionally.
That ambition eventually took him to Britain, where he would spend years developing his craft before becoming one of Nigeria’s most recognisable actors.
From RADA to British television
Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before working with repertory theatres in Britain.
He went on to appear in British television productions including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals.
His work also extended into international cinema, with appearances in films such as The Dogs of War, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend and Roman Polanski’s Pirates.
By the time he returned to Nigeria, Jacobs was already an experienced stage, television and film actor.
The return that changed Nollywood
Back home, Jacobs became part of the generation that helped establish Nigerian film and television as a major entertainment force.
His theatre training was visible in the way he approached his characters. He became particularly associated with kings, chiefs, patriarchs and other figures of authority, using his deep voice and commanding presence to give those roles weight.
But his work went beyond those familiar roles. Across Nigerian theatre, television and film, Jacobs built a career that lasted for more than five decades and made him one of the defining performers of his generation.
The honours came with the legacy
Recognition followed years of work on stage and screen.
Jacobs won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007. He later received the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2013 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
In 2011, the Nigerian government also honoured him with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, for his contribution to the arts.
A life and career shared with Joke Silva
Jacobs’ story was also closely tied to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva.
The couple married in 1989 and built a partnership that extended beyond their personal lives. Together, they co-founded the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, creating a platform for film production, distribution and performing arts education.
Their work together gave Jacobs another role in Nigerian entertainment, this time away from the cameras and focused on building the industry itself.
His final years
Jacobs gradually stepped away from public life in his later years as his health declined.
In 2021, Silva disclosed that he had been living with dementia with Lewy bodies. The revelation came after years in which false reports of Jacobs’ death had repeatedly circulated, with his family having to publicly deny them.
He celebrated his 84th birthday on July 11, just over two months before his death.
This time, there was no denial. His family confirmed that the actor had died and asked the public to allow them space to grieve.
What Olu Jacobs leaves behind
Jacobs leaves behind more than a list of films and awards.
His career connected the theatre traditions of his youth with British stage and television, international cinema and the Nigerian film industry that would eventually become known around the world as Nollywood.
For audiences who watched him across generations, his voice and presence became instantly recognisable. For younger performers, his career offered a path from professional theatre to a wider screen industry.
After more than five decades in the performing arts, Olu Jacobs is gone.
But the work that made him “The Lion of Lufodo” remains part of the history of Nigerian theatre and cinema.