Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84, his family announced on Wednesday.

Jacobs died on September 16, 2026, two months after celebrating his 84th birthday on July 11. His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced the death in an Instagram post, while his wife and fellow veteran actress Joke Silva also shared the family’s statement. 

The family described the veteran actor as the “Lion of Lufodo” and expressed gratitude for what it called a life well lived, while asking bloggers and social media users to respect the family’s privacy during the mourning period. 

The statement did not disclose the immediate cause of his death.

Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs built an acting career that spanned more than five decades and took him from British theatre and television to international film productions and ultimately to becoming one of the most recognisable figures in Nollywood. 

He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before appearing in several British television productions and international films. He later returned to Nigeria and became widely known for his commanding performances, distinctive voice and frequent portrayals of kings, chiefs, patriarchs and other authority figures. 

Jacobs became one of the senior actors associated with Nollywood’s growth into one of Africa’s biggest film industries, appearing in numerous Nigerian productions and helping to shape the careers of younger actors.

Alongside Joke Silva, he was also associated with the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, which contributed to training and developing actors and theatre practitioners in Nigeria. 

His career brought him several major honours.

In 2007, Jacobs won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Dancing Heart. He later received the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards in 2013 and an AMAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. 

The Federal Government also honoured him with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, in 2011 for his contribution to the arts. 

News of Jacobs’ death has already prompted tributes from across Nigeria’s entertainment and public life, with actors, politicians and admirers remembering him as one of the country’s most influential screen performers. 

His death comes after several false reports about his passing circulated online in previous years.

In June 2024, social media claims that Jacobs had died forced his family to publicly deny the reports, with his son telling Channels Television at the time that the actor was alive. 

Wednesday’s announcement is different because it came directly from the Jacobs family, confirming the death of the veteran actor.

Jacobs is survived by his wife Joke Silva, their children and grandchildren.