Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
The actor’s death was announced yesterday, September 16, by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, in a statement shared on Instagram.
Olusoji described his father as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle, while paying tribute to the life and career of the veteran actor.
“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,” he wrote.
The family also appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy as they come to terms with the loss.
“We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family’s privacy at this time,” Olusoji added.
The death marks the end of a remarkable acting career that spanned more than five decades and straddled both the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
Jacobs was born in 1942 and trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, one of Britain’s leading institutions for dramatic arts.
He began his professional acting career in Britain, appearing in several television productions, including the British television classics, The Goodies and The Professionals. He also featured in international film productions before returning to Nigeria in the 1980s.
His return coincided with the emergence and rapid growth of Nigeria’s modern film industry.
Jacobs subsequently became one of the most recognisable faces in Nollywood, establishing a reputation for portraying authoritative traditional rulers, fathers, elders and other commanding characters.
His deep voice, commanding screen presence and versatility made him a distinctive figure in Nigerian film and television, while his career helped bridge the country’s traditional theatre and emerging commercial film industries.
Beyond acting, Jacobs was also involved in the development of the Nigerian creative industry.
Together with his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, he co-founded the Lufodo Group, a media and performing arts company through which the couple contributed to the development and grooming of creative talents.
The couple’s professional partnership became one of the enduring relationships in Nigeria’s theatre and film industry, with both actors maintaining successful careers on stage and screen.
Jacobs’ later years, however, were marked by serious health challenges.
In 2021, Silva publicly disclosed that her husband had been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), a progressive neurodegenerative condition.
The disclosure followed years of speculation and false reports concerning the actor’s health, with the family repeatedly having to respond to rumours circulating on social media.
Speaking during a television interview about Jacobs’ condition, Silva described the experience as difficult for both her husband and the family.
“It’s been hard on him because he doesn’t understand everything that is going on, and hard on the family,” she said.
Silva also spoke about the personal cost of watching her long-time partner experience cognitive decline, recalling the years they had spent working together and building their family and professional lives.
“I miss the times we worked together, but we remain deeply grateful for every clear, beautiful moment we have,” she said.
Despite his health challenges, Jacobs’ contribution to Nigerian entertainment continued to attract recognition.
In 2011, he was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in recognition of his contribution to the nation.
He also received the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, further cementing his standing as one of the industry’s most distinguished actors.
Jacobs was widely regarded as one of the influential figures of Nigeria’s modern film industry.
His career, which began on British stages and television before extending into international cinema and Nigerian film, reflected the evolution of the country’s entertainment industry over several decades.
His performances in Nollywood, particularly in roles requiring authority, dignity and gravitas, made him a familiar presence to generations of Nigerian film audiences.
His passing is expected to prompt tributes from colleagues, filmmakers, theatre practitioners and admirers across Nigeria and beyond, as the industry reflects on the career of an actor whose work helped shape the development of Nigerian screen entertainment.
For the Jacobs family, however, the immediate priority is mourning their patriarch away from the intense attention that accompanied his years of declining health.
The family’s appeal to bloggers and social media influencers underscores its desire for privacy as it grieves the loss of the veteran actor, whose life and career left an enduring imprint on Nigerian theatre, film and television.
