Breaking: Veteran Actor Olu Jacobs Dies at 84

By Reporter

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

The death of the celebrated Nollywood icon was announced by members of his family on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

His wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, and their son, Olusoji Jacobs, confirmed the development in separate social media posts.

Jacobs, who turned 84 in July, was one of Nigeria’s most respected actors, with a career spanning theatre, television and film. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before appearing in British television productions and international films.

He later became a towering figure in Nollywood, featuring in numerous Nigerian films and helping shape the development of the country’s modern film industry. He was also a recipient of the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in recognition of his contribution to the arts.

Jacobs and Silva were among Nigeria’s best-known entertainment couples and co-founded the Lufodo Group, with interests in theatre, film production and training.

His death comes after years of recurring false reports of his passing, which his family had repeatedly denied. In 2024, the family publicly dismissed another death rumour and confirmed that the actor was alive.

The family has appealed for privacy as it mourns the veteran actor, whose career and influence left an enduring mark on Nigeria’s entertainment industry.