Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, one of Nollywood’s most influential pioneers, has died at 84, his family announced in an Instagram post Wednesday.
His son, Olusoji Jacobs, confirmed the death of Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, born July 11, 1942, describing him as “the Lion of Lufodo” in a statement shared on behalf of the family. “It is with gratitude to God for a life well lived and fought,” the statement read, adding that the family was mourning a husband, father, grandfather and uncle. The family asked bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy during this time.
Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and began his acting career in British television and film in the 1970s, appearing in series such as The Professionals and Barlow at Large before moving into Nigeria’s film industry. He went on to become one of the figures most closely associated with Nollywood’s rise, alongside actors such as Pete Edochie, appearing in more than 120 films over a career spanning five decades, including Oloibiri (2015) and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel (2017).
In 1985, Jacobs and his wife, actress Joke Silva, founded the Lufodo Group, a production and training company that has since worked to develop actors, directors and other film practitioners in Nigeria. He was honoured with national recognition as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011 and received multiple Africa Movie Academy Award nominations and lifetime achievement honours over the course of his career.
Jacobs had faced declining health in recent years. His wife said in past interviews that he had been diagnosed with a form of dementia that affected his memory and personality, a disclosure the family had made public well before Wednesday’s announcement.
He is survived by his wife, Joke Silva, their sons and a granddaughter, according to the family’s statement.
