Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs has passed away at the age of 84.
The respected actor died today, Wednesday, September 16, 2026, and by extension, Catalystng.com takes a look at 15 things to know about the legendary actor and his remarkable career.
His wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, and their son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced his death through their official Instagram pages.
Olu Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most respected actors and a towering figure in the country’s theatre, television and film industries, with a career spanning several decades.
In a joint family announcement, his loved ones described him as “The Lion of Lufodo” while announcing his death.
The statement read: “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 Baiyewu Jacobs (MFR). 11/07/1942 – 16/09/2026.”
The family also appealed to bloggers, social media influencers and the general public to respect their privacy as they mourn the veteran actor.
“We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family’s privacy at this time,” the statement added.
Jacobs celebrated his 84th birthday on July 11, 2026, before his death two months later.
See the post below:
15 things to know about late Olu Jacob
1. Born in Kano in 1942
Olu Jacobs was born on July 11, 1942, in Kano State, although he traced his roots to the Egba Alake community of Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He spent his early years in Kano, where his interest in acting gradually developed through school drama, debating activities and church programmes.
His passion for acting became stronger after he watched a performance by the late legendary theatre practitioner Hubert Ogunde. The experience made a lasting impression on the young Jacobs and encouraged him to pursue acting as a profession.
2. He received formal acting training in Britain
Jacobs later travelled to the United Kingdom, where he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London to receive professional training in theatre and acting.
After completing his studies, he worked with several repertory theatres in Britain and began appearing in British television productions.
During the 1970s, Jacobs featured in popular programmes including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Professionals, The Tomorrow People and Barlow at Large.
His international acting credits also included films such as The Dogs of War in 1980, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend in 1985 and Roman Polanski’s Pirates in 1986.
3. His acting career spanned several generations
After spending years building his career in Britain, Jacobs returned to Nigeria and became a major figure in the country’s entertainment industry.
His career covered theatre, television and film, with the veteran actor appearing in hundreds of productions throughout his decades in the industry.
In Nollywood, he became especially known for playing kings, chiefs, traditional rulers, fathers, patriarchs and other influential characters.
His deep voice, commanding presence and strong theatre background made him easily recognisable to audiences in Nigeria and beyond.
Jacobs was also part of the generation of actors who helped shape the Nigerian film industry and contributed to the growth of what later became widely known as Nollywood.
4. He received several major awards and honours
Throughout his career, Jacobs received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to acting and the Nigerian arts.
In 2007, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Four years later, in 2011, the Federal Government of Nigeria honoured him with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
In 2013, he received the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for his outstanding contribution to acting.
He was also honoured with the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
5. He was married to Joke Silva
Olu Jacobs was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, with whom he built one of the most recognised marriages in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
The couple met in the early 1980s before eventually getting married. Their relationship developed into both a personal and professional partnership.
Over the years, Jacobs and Silva worked together on different projects while raising their family and supporting each other’s careers.
Their decades-long marriage made them one of the most respected couples in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
6. He co-founded the Lufodo Group with Joke Silva
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva jointly founded the Lufodo Group, a company involved in areas including film production, distribution and performing arts education.
Beyond acting, Jacobs also took on responsibilities as a film executive and was involved in efforts aimed at developing the performing arts in Nigeria.
Through the company, the couple continued their involvement in the creative industry beyond their individual acting careers.
7. He was known as the “Lion of Lufodo”
Olu Jacobs was affectionately referred to by his family and loved ones as the “Lion of Lufodo.”
The nickname was used in the family’s announcement of his death, where they described him as “The Lion of Lufodo” while paying tribute to the veteran actor.
The name has since become one of the phrases associated with Jacobs and his connection to the Lufodo Group.
8. His later years were spent largely away from the spotlight
In his later years, Jacobs gradually reduced his public appearances as his health began to affect his ability to remain active in the entertainment industry.
In November 2021, his wife, Joke Silva, publicly revealed that the actor had been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), a degenerative condition.
Following the disclosure, Jacobs remained largely away from public events and acting, while his family continued to care for him away from the intense attention that had surrounded his career.
9. His death was repeatedly the subject of false reports
Before his actual death, Olu Jacobs became the subject of several false death reports on social media.
Rumours about his passing circulated on different occasions, particularly as he became less visible in public.
In June 2024, Joke Silva dismissed another report claiming that her husband had died and reassured members of the public that he was alive.
Similar reports had also been debunked by his family in the past.
Jacobs continued to stay away from the public eye, while fans, colleagues and admirers regularly celebrated his contributions to Nigerian theatre, television and film.
10. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren
Olu Jacobs is survived by his wife, Joke Silva, their children and grandchildren.
His family announced his death on September 16, 2026, describing him as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle.
The announcement marked the end of a decades-long career that made Jacobs one of the most familiar faces in Nigerian entertainment.
11. He featured in more than 300 films
According to the Lufodo Group, Jacobs worked with several major international organisations and production companies during his career.
His international credits included work with the BBC, Walt Disney, Universal Pictures, MGM, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Britain’s National Theatre.
His extensive career in Nigeria also saw him feature in more than 300 films, making him one of the most prolific veteran actors associated with the country’s film industry.
12. His health condition led to his retirement from acting
Jacobs eventually stepped away completely from acting and public performances as his neurological condition progressed.
His retirement came after decades of working across stage, television and film.
Although he was no longer regularly appearing in new productions, his previous performances continued to remain popular among Nigerian audiences and younger generations of movie lovers.
13. He became famous for playing powerful and authoritative characters
One of the most recognisable aspects of Olu Jacobs’ career was his ability to portray characters with power, authority and influence.
He regularly played kings, chiefs, senior advocates, military generals, traditional rulers and respected family patriarchs.
His deep baritone voice, facial expressions and commanding delivery helped him bring such characters to life and made the roles closely associated with his name.
For many viewers, the sight and voice of Jacobs in a film immediately suggested the presence of an important or influential character.
14. He left a lasting legacy in Nigerian entertainment
Olu Jacobs’ contribution to Nigerian entertainment went beyond the characters he played on screen.
His career connected Nigeria’s traditional theatre culture with modern television and film, while his professional training and experience in Britain gave his work an international dimension.
Through acting, production and arts education, he influenced several generations of Nigerian performers.
Alongside other veteran actors, including Pete Edochie, Jacobs belonged to a generation that played an important part in the development of Nollywood and the growth of Nigeria’s film industry.
For decades, audiences remembered him for his portrayal of authority, wisdom, dignity and leadership. His performances, awards, mentorship and work in the performing arts secured his place among the notable figures in the history of Nigerian entertainment.
15. His family appealed to bloggers and influencers to respect their privacy
Following his death, the Jacobs family appealed to bloggers, social media influencers and members of the public to respect their privacy as they mourned.
In the statement announcing his passing, the family said:
“We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
The family described his death as the passing of their “dear husband, father, grandfather and uncle,” while announcing his full name and dates as “Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs (MFR). 11/07/1942 – 16/09/2026.”
Olu Jacobs died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the age of 84, leaving behind a career that spanned theatre, television and film and a body of work that continues to be remembered by audiences and fellow actors.
