olu jacobs dies at 84
Veteran Nigerian actor, Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
Jacobs’ death was announced by his family in the early hours of Wednesday.
Olusoji Jacobs, the actor’s son, announced the death in an Instagram post, expressing gratitude to God for his father’s life and asking bloggers and social media users to respect the family’s privacy as they mourn.
“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 Lion of Lufodo,” he wrote.
“Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs (MFR) 11/07/1942 – 16/09/2026.
“We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Born in 1942 to parents from Egba Alake, Jacobs grew up in Kano, where he attended Holy Trinity School and participated in debating and drama societies.
His interest in acting was sparked by a Hubert Ogunde concert party performance at the Colonial Hotel in Kano, which prompted him to travel to England to pursue training.
He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In 1972, he played The Boy in A Taste of Honey at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, one of his earliest stage roles.
He later appeared in several British television shows and series during the 1970s, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part and Barlow at Large.
In 1978, he played President Mageeba in Michael Codron’s presentation of Sir Tom Stoppard’s play Night and Day.
Jacobs returned to Nigeria in 1990 and starred in the NTA detective series The Third Eye. He subsequently featured in hundreds of Nollywood films, establishing himself as one of the industry’s most distinguished actors.
He won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and received an Icon Award from the Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS) in 2022.
At the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), Jacobs was honoured with the Industry Merit Award for his outstanding achievements in acting.
The veteran actor married fellow actress Joke Silva in 1989, and the couple have two children.
Before his death, Jacobs had been the subject of several death rumours.
