Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, whose career spanned more than five decades across theatre, television and film, has died at the age of 84.
His wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, announced his death in a statement, describing him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and saying his life was “well lived and fought.”
Silva asked the public, particularly bloggers and social media influencers, to respect the family’s privacy as they mourn.
“We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family’s privacy at this time,” she said.
Jacobs was regarded as one of the father figures of Nollywood, the name commonly used for Nigeria’s film industry, and was widely respected for his commanding screen presence and versatility.
Jacobs appeared in numerous productions during his long career, including the international films Ashanti, The Dogs of War, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend and Pirates. His Nigerian film credits include Oloibiri, Dry, Adesuwa, The Antique and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel.
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London before beginning a career that included appearances in British television productions and international films.
He later returned to Nigeria, where he became one of the defining figures in the country’s rapidly growing film and television industry.
His career included numerous Nigerian productions and earned him several major honours, including the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and lifetime achievement awards.
In 2011, Jacobs was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in recognition of his contribution to Nigeria’s film industry
Beyond acting, Jacobs and Silva jointly established the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, which contributed to the development and training of performing artists in Nigeria.
In his later years, Jacobs largely stayed away from the public spotlight as he dealt with ill-health.
His death marks the end of a career that helped shape Nigeria’s theatre, television and film industries and influenced generations of performers.
