Nigeria’s best known actor whose career spanned several decades across theatre, television and film,Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs aka Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84.
His wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, announced his death and asked for privacy while the family mourns.
Silva announced his passing in a statement describing the celebrated actor as “The Lion of Lufodo” and saying his life was “well lived and fought”.
Olu Jacobs authored notable films scuh as My Kingdom, Covert Operation and One Fine Day.
He was regarded as one of the father figures of Nollywood, as Nigeria’s film industry in known, commanding widespread respect and admiration across the country.
“We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family’s privacy at this time,” Silva said in a statement.
Born on 11 July 1942, Jacobs was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before embarking on a career that included appearances in British television productions and international films.
He became one of the defining figures of Nigeria’s film industry, appearing in numerous Nigerian productions and earning recognition for his commanding screen presence and versatility.
His career spanned more than five decades, during which he received several major honours, including the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and lifetime achievement honours.
In 2011, Jacobs was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in recognition of his contribution to the Nigerian film industry.
Jacobs and Silva jointly established the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing not only to film and television but also to developing and training performing artists in Nigeria.
In recent years, Jacobs had largely stayed away from the public spotlight due to ill-health.
In 2021, Silva disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy bodies.
“It’s a degenerative disease that affects the brain and it’s almost like a Parkinson-type of disease – it affects the brain and affects the person,” she said in an interview with Nigerian broadcaster Chude Jideonwo.
On several occasions, there were rumours that Jacobs had died, but his family would promptly debunk them, the latest being in June 2024 when his eldest son, Soji, went on TV to say his father was still alive.
He began his career starring in several British television series and international films.
Olu Jacobs worked with various repertoire thertres in Britain and starred in some international movies. In 2007, Jacobs won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.He received the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award and the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He was conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011
In 1978, he played the role of President Mageeba in Michael Codron’s presentation of Sir Tom Stoppard’s play Night and Day.
In the 1980s, Jacobs appeared in several international films, including John Irvin’s war film The Dogs of War ,Roman Polanski’s adventure-comedy Pirates (1986) and the family-adventure film Baby:Secret of the Lost Legend (1985). On television, he was a cast member in TVs The Witches and the Grinnygog In 1990, upon his return to Nigeria, he starred in the NTA detective series The Third Eye.
Jacobs has subsequently starred in over 120 Nolly Wood films and is considered one of the top Nigerian Nollywood actors. He has also appeared in television commercials for food company Ribena and electronic giant, Binatone
