Nollywood Mourns Legendary Actor Olu Jacobs as Iconic Screen Star Dies at 84 After Decades in Entertainment

Nollywood has lost one of its most respected figures, veteran actor and film executive Olu Jacobs, who died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the age of 84.

His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced his death in a statement shared on social media. The family described him as their husband, father, grandfather and uncle, referring to him as “The Lion of Lufodo”. They also asked bloggers and social media influencers to respect the family’s privacy as they mourn.

Born Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs on July 11, 1942, Jacobs built a career spanning theatre, British television, international film and Nollywood. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before beginning a professional stage career and appearing in British television productions and international films.

He later returned to Nigeria and became one of the major figures in the development of the Nigerian film industry. His extensive screen career included more than 100 film roles, while his commanding voice and often authoritative characters made him one of Nollywood’s most recognisable actors.

Jacobs received several major honours during his career. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and was awarded the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011. He also received an Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and a lifetime achievement honour at the Africa International Film Festival.

His career was closely intertwined with that of his wife, actress Joke Silva. The couple, who married in 1985, became one of Nigeria’s best-known acting partnerships and co-founded the Lufodo Group, which includes the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.

In later years, Jacobs largely withdrew from public life because of health problems. Silva revealed in 2021 that he had been living with dementia with Lewy bodies, a progressive condition affecting the brain. The disclosure came after years of public speculation about his health and repeated false reports of his death.

Jacobs celebrated his 84th birthday in July, when Silva publicly marked the occasion and referred to him as “The Lion of Lufodo.” His death now brings an end to a career that stretched across more than five decades and helped shape Nigerian theatre, television and cinema.

His passing has prompted tributes across Nigeria’s entertainment industry, with colleagues and admirers remembering an actor whose work helped establish the generation of performers who became synonymous with modern Nollywood.