Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84. His family announced his death on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in a statement shared on Instagram by his son, Olusoji Jacobs.
How the family announced his death
The family described Jacobs as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle. They paid tribute to him as “The Lion of Lufodo,” a name his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, had also used for him in earlier tributes.
“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 family said.
Jacobs, whose full name was Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, had faced several false death reports in past years. His family denied similar claims in 2021, 2022 and again in June 2024, with his son confirming each time that the actor was still alive. This latest announcement confirms that he has now passed on.
Early life and training
Jacobs was born in Kano on July 11, 1942, to parents from Egba Alake. He developed an interest in acting early in life and later travelled to Britain, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
A career that spanned stage, screen and Nollywood
Jacobs built a career that crossed British theatre and television, international film productions and the Nigerian film industry. According to the Lufodo Group, which he co-founded with Joke Silva, he worked with organisations including the BBC, Walt Disney, Universal Pictures, MGM, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Britain’s National Theatre.
In Nigeria, his acting credits grew to more than 300 films, making him one of the most recognisable faces in Nollywood.
Beyond acting, Jacobs helped build Nigeria’s professional theatre and film industry. He and Silva founded the Lufodo Group, which includes Lufodo Productions, Lufodo Distribution and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts. Jacobs served as chairman of the group.
Awards and honours
Jacobs’ work earned him several major honours over the years. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007. He later received the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from AMAA in 2016.
In 2011, he was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contribution to the Nigerian film industry.
His marriage to Joke Silva
Jacobs met Joke Silva in the early 1980s, and the couple married later that decade. Their marriage became one of the most enduring partnerships in Nigerian entertainment, with both working together professionally while raising their family.
His health in later years
In 2021, Joke Silva publicly disclosed that her husband was living with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological condition. She later spoke about how the illness affected him and led to his withdrawal from public life.
Despite his reduced public appearances, Jacobs remained widely celebrated by colleagues and fans. In July 2026, Silva marked his 84th birthday with a public tribute, again referring to him as “The Lion of Lufodo.”
His legacy in Nollywood
Jacobs belonged to a generation of performers who moved between stage, television and film, helping to lay the professional foundations that modern Nollywood was built on. His commanding screen presence and distinctive voice made him one of the most recognisable names in Nigerian drama.
He is survived by his wife, Joke Silva, their children and grandchildren.
Nollywood Life sends condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Olu Jacobs.
