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Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84, according to an announcement by his family on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
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His son announced his passing, describing him as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle, while asking the public to respect the family’s privacy.
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Jacobs built a career spanning theatre, television and film, including work in Britain before becoming one of the most recognised figures in Nigerian cinema.
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He was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, who stood by him through years of health challenges, while the pair also built a lasting legacy in Nigeria’s performing arts industry.
September 16, (THEWILL) – Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
His family announced his death on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in a statement on Instagram shared by his son, Olusoji Jacobs.
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 Baiyewun Jacobs (MFR)
“11/07/1942 – 16/09/2026
“We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our families privacy at this time.”
The family did not disclose a cause of death and appealed to the public to respect their privacy.
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs built a career spanning more than five decades across theatre, television and film. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before working with theatre companies in Britain and appearing in British television productions and international films, including ‘The Goodies’, ‘Till Death Us Do Part’, ‘Barlow at Large’ and Roman Polanski’s ‘Pirates’.
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After returning to Nigeria, Jacobs became one of the most recognisable faces of the country’s growing film industry.
He appeared in numerous Nigerian productions and became particularly known for playing traditional rulers, chiefs, patriarchs and other authoritative characters.
His career earned him several major honours. He won Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 2007 Africa Movie Academy Awards and received the AMAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
In 2021, he received the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. He was also conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
In his later years, Jacobs stepped away from the screen as he dealt with health challenges.
His wife, Joke Silva, disclosed in 2021 that he had been diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies, a condition she said had affected both him and the family.
Silva later spoke about the difficulty of adjusting to the changes brought by his condition.
In an interview, she said, “It hasn’t been easy,” adding that there came a point when she had to accept their new reality.
She also described Jacobs as an incredible father and an amazing husband.
The couple had been married since 1985 after meeting through their work in theatre.
Their marriage became one of the most recognised partnerships in Nigerian entertainment, with both actors building distinguished careers on stage and screen.
Together, Jacobs and Silva also co-founded the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, which has trained performers and other professionals in the creative industry.
Jacobs’ death marks the end of a career that stretched from British theatre and television to the development of modern Nigerian cinema.
His work on stage and screen, alongside his contribution to the training of younger creatives, left a lasting mark on Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
