Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, one of the most recognisable faces in African theatre, television and film, has died at the age of 84.
Jacobs’ death was announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, in a family statement shared on social media.
His wife, fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, also joined the family in announcing the passing.
The family described the celebrated actor as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to bloggers and social-media influencers to respect their privacy as they mourn.
The announcement brings to an end the life of an actor whose career stretched across more than five decades and crossed the worlds of British television, international cinema, Nigerian theatre and Nollywood.
Family confirms Olu Jacobs’ death
Olusoji’s announcement said the family was grateful for Jacobs’ life and described him as a husband, father, grandfather and uncle.
The family also specifically requested privacy, an appeal that comes after years in which reports concerning Jacobs’ health and alleged death periodically circulated online.
His cause and place of death had not been publicly disclosed in the initial announcement.
The news quickly triggered an outpouring of tributes across Nigeria and beyond, with public figures and entertainment personalities remembering Jacobs for his contribution to the country’s creative industry.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu described his passing as a significant loss to Nigeria’s cultural and creative community, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also paid tribute to the veteran actor.
From Kano to Britain’s theatre stages
Although Jacobs was born on July 11, 1942, to parents from the Egba Alake community of Ogun State, he grew up in Kano.
It was during his childhood in Kano that he developed an interest in acting after watching a performance by legendary Nigerian theatre pioneer Hubert Ogunde at the Colonial Hotel.
That experience helped set him on a path that would eventually take him to Britain, where he trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
His early professional career was largely rooted in theatre and British television.
Jacobs appeared in several British television productions during the 1970s, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals.
He also performed on the British stage, demonstrating his versatility long before becoming a household name in Nollywood.
Jacobs became a Nollywood giant
After establishing himself internationally, Jacobs became one of the defining figures of Nigeria’s rapidly expanding film industry.
He appeared in more than 120 Nollywood films, frequently portraying powerful traditional rulers, fathers, businessmen, political figures and other authoritative characters.
His deep voice, commanding screen presence and ability to portray complex characters helped turn him into one of the industry’s most recognisable veteran performers.
Among the productions associated with his career are My Kingdom, Covert Operation and One Fine Day, alongside numerous Nigerian productions that helped introduce Nollywood to audiences across Africa and internationally.
His career also included international film work, including appearances in productions such as The Dogs of War and Pirates.
A career decorated with awards
Jacobs’ contribution to acting earned him numerous honours.
He won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and later received industry recognition at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
In 2011, he was awarded Nigeria’s national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contribution to the country’s film industry.
He was also honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Africa International Film Festival in 2021, underscoring the breadth of his contribution to African cinema.
His partnership with Joke Silva became part of Nollywood history
Beyond his professional achievements, Jacobs’ relationship with Joke Silva became one of the best-known partnerships in Nigerian entertainment.
Both were highly respected actors, and together they became an influential couple within the Nigerian creative industry.
The pair also worked together in building the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the development and training of performers in Nigeria.
Jacobs’ nickname, “The Lion of Lufodo”, was linked to that legacy.
Silva had previously spoken publicly about her husband’s health challenges, including his diagnosis with Dementia with Lewy bodies, a condition that affected his later years.
However, the family has not attributed Jacobs’ death to any particular condition in its announcement.
False death reports had followed Jacobs for years
Ironically, Jacobs had previously been the subject of several false death reports on social media.
In 2021, rumours of his death circulated widely before he appeared publicly at the Africa International Film Festival, where he received a lifetime achievement honour.
His family also had to address similar rumours in later years.
His confirmed death at 84 therefore marks a significant moment for an industry in which he had spent decades building a reputation as one of its elder statesmen.
An enduring African screen legacy
Olu Jacobs’ career was unusual in its breadth.
He successfully moved between British theatre, international productions and Nigerian cinema, while remaining a major presence as Nollywood developed into one of the world’s most prolific film industries.
For many African viewers, Jacobs was more than an actor.
His distinctive voice, authoritative characters and longevity made him a familiar presence across generations.
His death leaves behind a body of work spanning theatre, television and film, as well as an influence that extended into acting education and the broader development of Nigeria’s creative sector.
As Nigeria’s entertainment industry mourns, the family has asked the public to give them privacy as they come to terms with the loss of the man they affectionately called “The Lion of Lufodo.”
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