Nollywood legend, Olu Jacobs is dead

Veteran Nigerian actor and film legend Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, widely celebrated as Olu Jacobs, has passed away at the age of 84.

His son, Olusoji Jacobs, confirmed his death on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, via an Instagram post expressing deep gratitude for his father’s life and requesting that the public grant the family privacy during their mourning.

Revered alongside contemporaries like Pete Edochie as one of the founding pillars of Nollywood, Jacobs left an indelible mark on African cinema. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, his distinguished career spanned over five decades across international stage, television, and film before he returned to anchor Nigeria’s booming movie industry.

A recipient of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and numerous lifetime achievement honors, he co-founded the Lufodo Group alongside his longtime wife, celebrated actress Joke Silva, solidifying a lasting legacy across Nigerian performing arts.