Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
Jacobs’ death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, in a statement shared on Instagram on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The family described the veteran actor as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle, while appealing to the public, bloggers and social media influencers to respect the family’s privacy at the time of mourning.
READ ALSO: ADC Supporters Attacked on Way to Airport to Welcome Isah Ashiru Kudan in Kaduna
The statement gave his date of birth as July 11, 1942, and his date of death as September 16, 2026.
Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors, with a career spanning theatre, television and film. He began his professional acting journey in Britain, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London before appearing in several British television productions and international films.
He later became a major figure in Nigeria’s emerging film industry, starring in numerous Nollywood productions and helping shape the industry through his work as an actor, producer and film executive.
Over the decades, Jacobs earned several major honours for his contribution to the arts, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He was also conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
Jacobs was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva, with whom he founded and operated the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.
His death comes after years of false reports about his passing. In June 2024, his family publicly dismissed similar reports, confirming that he was alive.
The latest announcement from his family has now confirmed the death of the veteran actor at 84.
His passing marks the end of a career that spanned decades and crossed theatre, British television, international cinema and Nollywood.
