Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84, bringing to a close a remarkable career that travelled from British theatre and television to the heart of Nigerian cinema.
His wife, actress Joke Silva, and their son confirmed his death on Wednesday, September 16, ending any uncertainty after years of false reports about his health.
“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 family said.
They described him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to bloggers and social media users to respect their privacy.
From Sheffield stage to international film
Born Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs on July 11, 1942, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
His early career unfolded on the British stage. In 1972, he played The Boy in A Taste of Honey at Sheffield’s newly opened Crucible Theatre.
Television roles followed in productions including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Tomorrow People, The Professionals and Barlow at Large.
Jacobs also appeared in international films such as The Dogs of War, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend and Pirates.
A commanding Nollywood presence
After returning to Nigeria, Jacobs became one of Nollywood’s most recognisable performers. His rich voice and calm authority made him a natural fit for kings, patriarchs and men carrying complicated power.
He and Joke Silva, whom he married in 1989, also helped train younger performers through the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
Nigeria honoured Jacobs with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011. A decade later, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa International Film Festival.
Jacobs had been living with Lewy body dementia, a condition Silva publicly discussed in 2021.
He leaves behind a body of work stretching across more than five decades, and a generation of African actors who saw in him proof that their craft could travel anywhere.
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