Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84, bringing to an end a career that spanned more than five decades across theatre, television and film.
Jacobs, born Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs on July 11, 1942, died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
His death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, in a post on Instagram.
The family described the late actor as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to the public, particularly bloggers and social media influencers, to respect their privacy as they mourn.
Jacobs was one of the most recognisable figures in Nigerian theatre and cinema, building a career that extended beyond Nollywood to British television and international film.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London before beginning his professional career in Britain, where he worked in theatre and appeared in television productions and international films.
He later returned to Nigeria and became a prominent figure in the country’s growing film industry, appearing in numerous productions and earning a reputation for his commanding performances.
His career also included work as a producer and theatre practitioner. Together with his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, Jacobs was associated with the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
His contribution to the Nigerian entertainment industry earned him several honours.
He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and received other industry and lifetime achievement honours. He was also conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
Jacobs was married to Joke Silva, with whom he shared a long career in the performing arts.
The actor’s death marks the loss of one of the veteran figures whose work helped shape Nigeria’s theatre and film industry over several decades.
The family has asked for privacy as relatives, colleagues and admirers mourn the veteran actor.
