Olu Jacobs Dies at 84: Family Confirms Passing of Nollywood Icon After Years of Death Rumours
Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs has died at 84, with his family confirming his passing after years of false reports that the celebrated Nollywood star was dead.
Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84, according to a statement from his family on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The announcement comes after years of false reports and social media rumours claiming that the celebrated actor had died.
Jacobs’ son, Olusoji Jacobs, shared the family announcement on Instagram, with the statement describing the veteran actor as “The Lion of Lufodo” and asking the public, bloggers and social media users to respect the family’s privacy.
“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 family said.
The statement identified him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and gave his dates as “Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs (MFR). 11/07/1942–16/09/2026.”
No official cause of death was given in the announcement.
Jacobs had largely withdrawn from public acting in his later years. His wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, had previously spoken publicly about his health and revealed that he was living with Lewy body dementia.
His health and absence from the screen contributed to repeated false reports of his death. In 2024, Africa Check reported that the family had denied another viral claim that Jacobs had died, with his son Olusoji providing evidence that the actor was still alive at the time.
The latest announcement follows a very different public moment only two months ago, when Silva celebrated Jacobs’ 84th birthday in July 2026 and thanked Nigerians for their messages, prayers and goodwill towards her husband.
Jacobs is survived by his wife, Joke Silva, and their children, including Olusoji and Olugbenga.
Born on July 11, 1942, in Kano, Jacobs was raised in a family with roots in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He developed an interest in acting after watching one of Chief Hubert Ogunde’s concert parties and later pursued professional theatre training in Britain.
He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and built a career across British theatre and television during the 1970s.
His British television credits included productions such as The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals.
He also appeared in international films, including The Dogs of War in 1980, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend in 1985 and Roman Polanski’s Pirates in 1986.
Jacobs returned to Nigeria around 1990 and became widely recognised by Nigerian television audiences, including through the NTA detective series The Third Eye.
As Nigeria’s home-video industry expanded, he became one of the country’s most recognisable actors, appearing in more than 120 productions and portraying kings, fathers, elders, politicians and other authority figures.
His later film credits included Dancing Heart, Dry, Oloibiri and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel.
Beyond acting, Jacobs and Silva established the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to professional training and production within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Jacobs’ career brought numerous national and international honours.
He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 for Dancing Heart. He was also awarded the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
Other recognitions included the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and the AMAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa International Film Festival in 2021.
His career stretched across stage, television and film, linking the era of Nigerian television drama with the rise and international growth of Nollywood.
For generations of Nigerian viewers, Jacobs became synonymous with commanding performances and characters of authority. His name was frequently mentioned alongside other veteran actors who helped establish the professional foundations of Nigeria’s modern film industry.
Jacobs celebrated his 84th birthday on July 11, 2026, with Silva publicly marking the occasion and describing him as “The Lion of Lufodo.”
Two months later, his family announced his death, bringing to an end the life and career of one of Nigeria’s most recognisable actors.
