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Nollywood Trailblazer Olu Jacobs, ‘Lion of Lufodo,’ Dies at 84
Olu Jacobs was a famous Nigerian actor who has died at age 84.
He was known as “The Lion of Lufodo.”
He first became interested in acting while growing up in Kano.
He moved to Britain in 1964 and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
He worked in British theatres and television shows before returning to Nigeria.
He then became one of Nollywood’s most respected actors.
Jacobs acted in more than 200 films and many stage productions.
He and his wife, Joke Silva, also helped train and support other performers.
His family did not announce a cause of death and asked for privacy.
Olu Jacobs died aged 84, with his son Olusoji Jacobs announcing the death on September 16, 2026.
Born in Abeokuta and raised in Kano, Jacobs trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts from 1964.
He worked in British theatre, television and film before returning to Nigeria in the early 1980s.
Jacobs appeared in more than 200 films and over 100 stage productions during his career.
With his wife Joke Silva, he co-founded the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
- Who
- Nigerian actor and film executive Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, known as Olu Jacobs, died at 84.
- What
- His family announced his death through his son, Olusoji Jacobs.
- Where
- The announcement was shared on Instagram; Jacobs was born in Abeokuta, grew up in Kano, and worked in Nigeria and Britain.
- When
- September 16, 2026; the family listed his lifespan as July 11, 1942, to September 16, 2026.
- Why
- The family did not state a cause of death. Jacobs had experienced ongoing health challenges, including dementia with Lewy bodies.
Key facts
- Full name
- Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs (MFR)
- Age at death
- 84
- Training
- Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, beginning in 1964
- Career
- More than 200 films, over 100 stage productions and more than 30 Nigerian television credits
- Wife
- Veteran Nigerian actress Joke Silva; they married in 1989
- Companies founded
- Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts
- Notable awards
- AMAA Best Actor in a Leading Role, MFR national honour, AMVCA Industry Merit Award and AMAA Lifetime Achievement Award
Quotes
Olusoji Jacobs
Olu Jacobs’s son, who announced his father’s death on behalf of the family
“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.”
easterneye.biz
Sources
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