Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs dies at 84

Veteran Nigerian actor Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84, according to reports published on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. His family has confirmed his passing. 

Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors, with a career spanning theatre, British television, international film and Nollywood.

Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs developed an interest in acting at an early age before travelling to the United Kingdom to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

He began his professional career in theatre and British television. One of his earliest recorded stage roles was The Boy in A Taste of Honey at the newly opened Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1972.

During the 1970s, he appeared in several British television productions, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, The Venturers, Angels, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals.

Jacobs also featured in international films such as The Dogs of War, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend and Pirates, demonstrating his range across stage, television and cinema.

He later returned to Nigeria and became a prominent figure in the country’s developing film industry. Over the years, he appeared in numerous Nollywood productions and became particularly recognised for portraying authoritative, sophisticated and often complex characters.

His contribution to the arts earned him several honours. In 2011, he received the Nigerian national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa International Film Festival in 2021.

Jacobs married veteran actress Joke Silva in 1989. The couple have two children and have long been among Nigeria’s best-known celebrity couples.

His death marks the end of a career that connected theatre, British television, international cinema and Nollywood, and leaves behind a substantial body of work in Nigerian entertainment.