Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84.
His death was announced on Wednesday, September 16, in an Instagram post by his son, Olusoji Jacobs.
“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.
The family also appealed for privacy while mourning. “We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family’s privacy at this time,” he added.
Born in 1942, Jacobs built a career spanning more than five decades across the United Kingdom and Nigeria. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, with early screen credits including British television classics “The Goodies” and “The Professionals,” alongside international film appearances.
He returned to Nigeria in the 1980s to help pioneer Nollywood, where he built an enduring legacy playing authoritative monarchs and beloved father figures.
In 2021, his wife of nearly four decades, veteran actress Joke Silva, revealed that Jacobs had been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies, a progressive neurodegenerative condition. The disclosure ended years in which the family repeatedly had to debunk false internet rumours about his health.
The couple co-founded Lufodo Group, a media and performing arts firm that helped groom generations of Nigerian creative talent.
Speaking in a past television interview about his cognitive decline, Silva described the emotional toll on the family. “It’s been hard on him because he doesn’t understand everything that is going on, and hard on the family,” she said. “I miss the times we worked together, but we remain deeply grateful for every clear, beautiful moment we have.”
Jacobs was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011 and received the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
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