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Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
The Jacobs family announced his death in a statement released Wednesday, signed by his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, and his son, Olusoji Jacobs.
According to his family, the respected actor died after a career spanning several decades in British television, international cinema, Nigerian theater and Nollywood.
“It is with gratitude to God for a life well lived and fought for, 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 said.
The family, however, did not reveal the cause of his death.
He also appealed to the public, especially bloggers and social media influencers, to allow the family to grieve in private.
“We ask all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family’s privacy at this time,” the statement added.
The announcement comes just over two months after Jacobs celebrated his 84th birthday on July 11, 2026.
His wife had marked the occasion with a tribute in which she had affectionately described him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and expressed gratitude for his life.
Jacobs’ career was not limited to Nollywood.
After receiving training at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, he established himself as a black actor on British television and appeared in productions including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Angels and The Professionals.
He has also acted in international films, including The Dogs of War, Pirates and Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend.
Upon his return to Nigeria, Jacobs became one of the influential figures in the country’s theater and film industry, bringing decades of professional experience on stage and screen to Nigeria’s emerging film sector.
His commanding voice, stage performance and distinctive screen presence subsequently made him one of the most recognizable actors of his generation.
He was particularly renowned for playing authoritative, complex and sometimes imposing characters, a style that helped solidify his reputation among Nigerian and African audiences.
Jacobs’ contribution to Nigerian art and culture earned him the national honor of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
He has also received major industry recognition throughout his career, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in 2007, the AMVCA Industry Merit Award in 2013, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
In addition to acting, Jacobs and Joke Silva have been associated with the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the development and training of talent in Nigeria’s creative industry.
The couple, who married in the 1980s, have become one of the most recognized partnerships in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
The death announcement brings to an end the life of an actor whose career spanned generations and continents.
For decades, Jacobs remained a familiar face to television, theater and film audiences, particularly as Nollywood expanded from a relatively young Nigerian film industry to a major force in African entertainment.
His passing is likely to renew attention on the contributions of the generation of Nigerian actors who helped unite traditional theatre, television and the modern Nigerian film industry.
Jacobs is survived by his wife, Joke Silva, their children and grandchildren.
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