Olu Jacobs, Nollywood’s Lion of Lufodo, Dies at 84
Olu Jacobs Dies at 84
Veteran Nigerian actor and film icon Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs (MFR), popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
The news of Jacobs’ passing was confirmed by his family on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in a statement shared by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, bringing an end to the life and career of one of Nigeria’s most revered actors.
“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,” the family stated, identifying the late actor by the moniker that had become synonymous with his towering presence.
From RADA to the International Stage
Olu Jacobs was born on July 11, 1942, and built a career that stretched across more than five decades, moving seamlessly between theatre, British television, international film and the Nigerian screen. Trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, he began his professional acting journey in Britain, appearing in productions including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Professionals, The Tomorrow People and Angels.
His international film credits included The Dogs of War, Pirates and Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend before he returned to Nigeria, where his presence would become central to the emergence and development of modern Nollywood.
In Nigerian cinema, Olu Jacobs became known for a commanding screen presence that made him a natural fit for patriarchs, kings, chiefs, politicians, and other figures of authority. Across generations of Nigerian film, his voice, diction and imposing performances became part of the visual and cultural language of Nollywood.
His career earned him some of the industry’s most significant honours. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007, received Nigeria’s national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011, and was presented with an Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2013. In 2016, he received the Africa Movie Academy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.
A Creative Partnership With Joke Silva
Beyond his acting career, Jacobs and his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, built a lasting creative partnership through the Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
Joke Silva had publicly celebrated her husband’s 84th birthday in July, describing him as “Sir J” and “The Lion of Lufodo.” She thanked Nigerians for the outpouring of love and goodwill towards him during the birthday celebration.
Jacobs’ final years were marked by a reduced public presence as he dealt with health challenges, with Silva previously speaking about his battle with Lewy body dementia. Despite his absence from the screen, his place within Nigerian cinema remained firmly established.
Following news of his death, tributes have begun pouring in across Nigeria’s entertainment industry and social media, with colleagues, filmmakers, actors and fans remembering an actor whose career helped connect Nigeria’s theatrical traditions with the global screen.
Olu Jacobs leaves behind a body of work that spans generations and a cultural legacy deeply embedded in the history of Nigerian film.
The Lion of Lufodo has taken his final bow.
