Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, one of the most recognisable figures in the country’s film and theatre industry, has died at the age of 84.
The actor, whose career spanned theatre, British television, international cinema and Nollywood, was known for his commanding performances and distinctive screen presence.
His death was announced by his son, Olusoji, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
As tributes continue to pour in for the veteran actor, here are seven things to know about his life and career.
- His full name was Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs
Olu Jacobs was born Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs on July 11, 1942.
He was born to parents of Egba Alake heritage and spent his early childhood in Kano, where he developed an interest in the performing arts.
Although he became popularly known as Olu Jacobs, his full name was less commonly used in everyday references to the veteran actor.
- Hubert Ogunde inspired his interest in acting
Jacobs’ interest in professional acting was reportedly influenced by legendary Nigerian theatre practitioner Hubert Ogunde.
As a young man in Kano, Jacobs watched one of Ogunde’s concert party performances at the Colonial Hotel.
The experience reportedly left an impression on him and contributed to his decision to pursue acting as a career.
Ogunde was one of Nigeria’s pioneering theatre practitioners, and his influence on the country’s early theatrical tradition extended to generations of performers.
- He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London
Jacobs later travelled to the United Kingdom to pursue formal training in acting.
He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, one of Britain’s best-known institutions for training actors.
His training gave him a foundation in theatre and professional performance and helped prepare him for a career that would initially take him through British theatre and television before his eventual return to Nigeria.
- He worked in British theatre and television before Nollywood
Long before becoming a household name in Nollywood, Jacobs had already established himself as an actor in Britain.
He appeared in a number of British television productions, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals.
His career also extended to international cinema, with appearances in films such as Ashanti, The Dogs of War, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend and Roman Polanski’s Pirates.
These roles gave him experience across different forms of screen and stage production before he became one of the major names associated with Nigerian cinema.
- He returned to Nigeria and became a major Nollywood actor
Jacobs returned to Nigeria in 1990 and continued his acting career at home.
One of his early notable roles after his return was that of Inspector Best Idafa in the NTA television detective series The Third Eye.
He subsequently became one of the most recognisable actors in Nigeria’s emerging film industry.
Over the years, Jacobs appeared in more than 100 Nigerian films, taking on a wide range of roles and working with several generations of Nigerian actors.
His career coincided with the growth of Nollywood from its early home-video era into one of the world’s most prolific film industries.
- He received several major awards and honours
Jacobs’ contribution to acting earned him recognition both within the Nigerian entertainment industry and at the national level.
Among the major honours associated with his career was the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, which he won in 2007.
He was also honoured by the Nigerian government in 2011, when he received the national honour 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.
Three years later, in 2016, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
The honours reflected the breadth and longevity of his career across theatre, television and film.
- He built a creative partnership with Joke Silva
Olu Jacobs was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, with whom he shared both family and professional interests.
The pair were prominent figures in Nigeria’s theatre and film circles and worked together in developing creative and training initiatives.
Jacobs and Silva founded the Lufodo Group, a company involved in areas of the entertainment industry, including film production and distribution.
They were also associated with the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, which focuses on training in the performing arts.
Their work together extended beyond acting and reflected their broader involvement in the development of theatre and film in Nigeria.
His legacy
Olu Jacobs’ career stretched across several generations of entertainment.
From his early interest in theatre in Kano to his formal training in London, his work in British television and international films, and his eventual emergence as one of Nollywood’s most recognisable actors, Jacobs built a career that crossed national and industry boundaries.
His contribution to Nigerian entertainment was recognised through several major awards and honours, while his work with Joke Silva also extended into film production and performing arts education.
Following news of his death at 84, Jacobs leaves behind a body of work spanning theatre, television, international cinema and Nollywood.
