Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced his death in an Instagram post on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, describing him as a cherished husband, father, grandfather and uncle.
In the post, Olusoji said the family was grateful to God for the actor’s life and described him as “The Lion of Lufodo”.
The family also appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect its privacy as it mourns the veteran actor.
Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors, with a career spanning theatre, television and film in Nigeria and abroad.
Background
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs spent his early years in Kano, where he attended Holy Trinity School and participated in debating and drama activities.
His interest in acting grew after he attended one of Chief Hubert Ogunde’s annual concert parties at the Colonial Hotel in Kano. He later travelled to England, where he pursued formal training in acting.
Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and began his professional career in British theatre and television.
His early stage appearances included the role of The Boy in A Taste of Honey at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1972. He later featured in several British television productions, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, The Venturers, Angels, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals.
He also appeared in international films such as The Dogs of War, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend and Roman Polanski’s Pirates.
Jacobs returned to Nigeria in 1990 and featured in the NTA detective series The Third Eye. He subsequently became one of the leading figures in the emerging Nigerian film industry.
Over the course of his career, he appeared in more than 100 Nollywood films and served as a film executive, contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s modern film industry.
His accomplishments earned him several honours, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007.
In 2011, Jacobs was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry.
He received the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Jacobs was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, and the couple had two children.
Together, they co-founded the Lufodo Group, which has been involved in film production, distribution and training in the performing arts.
Jacobs’ death marks the end of a decades-long career across theatre, television and film, through which he became one of the most recognised figures in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
