Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs dies at 84, bringing an end to a career that stretched from British theatre and television to the centre of Nollywood.
His family announced his death on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, describing him as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and uncle. The statement also called him the “Lion of Lufodo” and asked the public to respect the family’s privacy.
But the story of Olu Jacobs’ career and movies is not only about the roles that made him famous. It is also about how a theatre-trained actor helped shape Nigeria’s modern screen industry.
From Kano to British Theatre
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs grew up in Kano and developed an interest in acting after watching one of Chief Hubert Ogunde’s performances. He later travelled to England to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
His early professional career included British theatre and television. He appeared in productions including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, The Professionals and other television projects. He also featured in international films such as The Dogs of War and Roman Polanski’s Pirates.
That experience gave Jacobs a foundation that would later become part of his distinctive screen presence in Nigeria.
The Making of a Nollywood Icon
Jacobs returned to Nigeria in 1990 and took the role of Inspector Best Idafa in the NTA series The Third Eye. From there, he became one of the most recognisable actors in the country’s developing film industry.
He appeared in more than 100 Nollywood productions, often playing kings, chiefs, professionals, political figures and family patriarchs. His deep voice and commanding presence became part of the identity of an era of Nigerian cinema.
His work also earned major recognition. Jacobs received the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards Industry Merit Award in 2013 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Africa International Film Festival. He was also honoured with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011.
Beyond Acting: Building What Came Next
Perhaps the lasting part of the Olu Jacobs Nollywood legacy is what happened away from the camera.
Jacobs and his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, founded the Lufodo Group, which became involved in production, distribution and arts education. Lufodo’s academy was created to help develop new talent for Nigeria’s creative industry.
That means Jacobs’ influence was not limited to the films he acted in. Through performance, production and training, his career also became part of the infrastructure supporting Nigerian theatre and film.
As tributes emerge following Olu Jacobs’ death at 84, his career leaves behind a record that spans continents, generations and different stages of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
