The Veteran Nigerian actor and most respected actors and a towering figure in the country’s theatre, television and film industries Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has been reported dead at the age of 84.
Penpushing reports that Olusoji Jacobs son of the elder statesman, announced the death on Wednesday through Instagram, however, nature of death was yet unknown as at the time of filing this report
The deceased for more than five decades, built a career that took him from the stage in Britain to international films and, ultimately, to becoming one of the most recognisable faces of Nollywood.
Penpushing further reports her profile has it that he was born on July 11, 1942, in Kano, had his roots in the Egba Alake community of Abeokuta, Ogun State, however, grew up in Kano, where he developed an early interest in acting through school drama, debating activities, and church programmes.
The record equally has it that his passion for the performing arts was strengthened after he watched a performance by legendary Nigerian theatre practitioner Hubert Ogunde and that was the experience inspired him to pursue acting professionally.
Penpushing also reports that Jacobs later travelled to the United Kingdom, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and his training at the institution gave him a strong foundation in theatre and professional acting.
The late veteran Nollywood actor subsequently worked with several repertoire theatres in Britain and appeared in British television productions, and during the 1970s, he featured in television programmes including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Professionals, The Tomorrow People and Barlow at Large.
Penpushing reports that his international film credits also included The Dogs of War in 1980, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend in 1985 and Roman Polanski’s Pirates in 1986, however, after establishing himself in Britain, Jacobs returned to Nigeria and became a major figure in the country’s growing entertainment industry.
The deceased career covered theatre, television and film, with the actor appearing in hundreds of productions over the years., and in Nollywood, Jacobs became particularly known for playing kings, chiefs, traditional rulers, patriarchs and other authoritative characters.
Penpushing further reports that his deep voice, commanding presence and theatrical training made him one of the most recognisable veteran actors on the African continent, and was widely regarded as part of the generation of actors who helped lay the foundation for the Nigerian film industry as it is known today.
The record has it that in 2007, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and was also honoured with the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievement in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and received the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Penpushing also reports that in 2011, the Nigerian Government conferred on him the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in recognition of his contribution to the Nigerian arts.
The late Jacobs was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, and their relationship developed into both a personal and professional partnership that became one of the most prominent unions in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Penpushing reports the couple jointly founded the Lufodo Group, with interests spanning film production, distribution, and performing arts education, and also established the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, contributing to the training and development of a new generation of performers.
The deceased spent his later years largely away from the public spotlight after his health began to affect his appearances, while his wife had previously disclosed that he (Jacobs) was dealing with dementia with Lewy bodies, a degenerative condition that affected his health.
Penpushing further reports that his health also became the subject of repeated false reports of his death, and recalled that in June 2024, the wife again dismissed reports that he had died, saying he was alive and doing fine.
The family equally dismissed earlier death rumours, and Jacobs subsequently remained largely out of public view, while colleagues and admirers continued to celebrate his contribution to Nigerian theatre and cinema.
Penpushing also reports Jacobs left behind a legacy that extended beyond the characters he played on screen, while his career connected Nigeria’s traditional theatre tradition with modern film and television, and his training and experience abroad added an international dimension to his work.
The deceased through acting, production and arts education, influenced several generations of Nigerian performers, and together with contemporaries such as Pete Edochie, he became associated with the generation of veteran actors who helped shape Nollywood and establish its distinctive identity.
Penpushing reports that for decades, audiences knew him for his portrayal of authority, wisdom and dignity. His performances, awards, mentorship and contribution to the development of the performing arts ensured that his name remained firmly embedded in the history of Nigerian entertainment.
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