Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
The Jacobs family announced his passing on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, describing the celebrated actor as “The Lion of Lufodo.”
In a statement shared by his son and associated with the family, they wrote:
“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. Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs (MFR) 11/07/1942 – 16/09/2026.”
The family also appealed to the media and social media users to respect their privacy during the period of mourning.
Born on July 11, 1942, Olu Jacobs built a career that spanned more than five decades, establishing himself as one of the most respected actors to emerge from Nigeria.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, where he began his professional acting career before appearing in several British television productions and international films.
His early credits included appearances in television series such as The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Professionals, Angels and The Tomorrow People. He also appeared in international films including The Dogs of War (1980), Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) and Roman Polanski’s Pirates (1986).
After returning to Nigeria, He became one of the defining figures of the country’s emerging film industry.
Over the course of his career, he appeared in more than 100 Nigerian films and became particularly recognised for his commanding portrayals of traditional rulers, fathers, politicians, elders and other authoritative characters.
His distinctive voice and screen presence eventually made him one of the most recognisable faces in Nigerian cinema, with Jacobs frequently mentioned among the foundational figures of Nollywood.
Jacobs’ contributions to African cinema earned him numerous honours throughout his career.
He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and received the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
He was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa International Film Festival, while the Nigerian government conferred on him the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
In 2026, his 84th birthday was celebrated publicly by his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, who referred to him as “The Lion of Lufodo.”
Beyond his work on screen, He played an important role in developing Nigeria’s creative industry infrastructure.
Together with Joke Silva, whom he married, he co-founded the Lufodo Group, a company involved in film production and distribution, as well as the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
Through the academy and their wider work in the industry, the couple contributed to the training and development of a new generation of Nigerian performers.
Olu Jacobs gradually stepped away from acting and public appearances in his later years.
His reduced presence on screen followed revelations from Joke Silva that he had been living with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological condition. The family had previously faced repeated false reports of his death, including a widely circulated rumour in 2024 that was publicly debunked by his son.
The announcement of his passing on September 16, 2026, therefore marks the end of the life and career of one of the most influential figures in Nigerian acting.
For generations of Nigerian and African audiences, Olu Jacobs was more than a prolific actor. His work connected Nigeria’s theatre tradition with the country’s rapidly expanding film industry and helped establish a standard for screen performance that influenced countless actors who followed.
From British television and international cinema to the growth of Nollywood, he maintained a career that crossed industries and generations.
He leaves behind his wife, Joke Silva, their children and grandchildren, as well as a body of work that remains deeply embedded in the history of Nigerian cinema.
The Jacobs family has asked the public, bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy as they mourn.
Olu Jacobs was 84.
May his soul rest in peace.
