BREAKING: Veteran Nollywood Icon Olu Jacobs Dies at 84

Photo Credit: Photo from The Sun Nigeria / Lufodo Group
BREAKING: Veteran Nollywood Icon Olu Jacobs Dies at 84

Veteran Nollywood legend, Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has passed away at the age of 84.

His death was announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by his wife and fellow veteran actress, Joke Silva.

In a statement, Silva described her late husband as “The Lion of Lufodo,” noting that his life was well lived.

The statement reads: “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. Oludotun Baiyewun Jacobs (MFR) 11/07/1942 – 16/09/2026.”

The family also appealed to bloggers, journalists and the general public to respect their privacy during this mourning period.

Born on July 11, 1942, Olu Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors with a career that spanned over five decades across stage, television and film. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and featured in several British television productions before becoming a defining figure in Nollywood.

He is a recipient of the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Lifetime Achievement Awards, and was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.

Together with his wife, he co-founded the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, which has trained generations of Nigerian performers.

In recent years, the actor had been away from the spotlight following his battle with Dementia with Lewy bodies, a condition his wife had previously made public.

His death comes years after several false death rumours, which he himself debunked in a video in 2024.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and extended family.

May his soul rest in peace.
Source: The Sun Nigeria