An interview with actress Joke Silva has resurfaced, giving fresh attention to her love story with veteran actor Olu Jacobs, following news of his death at the age of 84.
Speaking on TVC’s “Your View,” Silva said she did not know Jacobs was coming to the set where they eventually crossed paths.
“Everybody knew the great Olu Jacobs was coming, except me. When he came, we got on very well,” she said.
Silva said the attraction was not mutual from the start. “For him, it was love at first sight, but for me, it wasn’t,” she said. She added that she only later realized how much older Jacobs was, since his youthful appearance had misled her.
The couple married in 1985. Silva was 24, and Jacobs was 44 at the time. Their marriage lasted more than four decades and produced two children, Olusoji and Gbenga. Silva often described their union in interviews as a “roller coaster” she credited to faith and endurance.
Jacobs’ son, Olusoji Jacobs, confirmed his father’s death on Wednesday through a statement on Instagram. The family referred to the late actor as “The Lion of Lufodo” and asked bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy during this period.
Jacobs had lived with dementia with Lewy bodies for several years, a degenerative brain condition Silva first disclosed publicly in 2021.
Actress Kate Henshaw was among the first public figures to react. She wrote on X: “ADIEU TO A GREAT ONE!! You lived and shared your gift with the world. Rest well, Uncle Olu Jacobs. May God comfort my darling Aunty J, Soji, Gbenga & the rest of the family in Jesus’ name.”
Actress Funke Akindele called Jacobs “a true legend, a kind and gracious man who was always willing to support, encourage and uplift young talents.” She added that his “remarkable legacy and contribution to our industry will never be forgotten.”
Actor Femi Jacobs, who shares a surname with the late thespian but is not related, wrote: “Amen, rest well, our beloved uncle.” Actors Eniola Ajao and Bolanle Ninalowo each shared photographs of Jacobs in tribute.
Several stars, including Ini Edo, Ruth Kadiri, Deyemi Okanlawon and Williams Uchemba, left condolence messages directly on Joke Silva’s Instagram page. Kadiri wrote: “Rest well, Uncle Olu.” Okanlawon wrote: “My heart goes out to you and the entire family. Do accept my deepest condolences.” Uchemba wrote: “A life well spent, Rest Well Legend.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also issued a statement, describing Jacobs as “an institution, a cultural icon and one of the finest ambassadors of our creative spirit.” He said Jacobs “helped lay the foundations upon which an entire industry would rise” long before Nollywood gained international recognition.
Today’s confirmation follows years of unverified death rumors about the actor, a pattern that has repeated at least five times since 2020.
The first rumor surfaced in June 2020, when claims spread across Twitter and Facebook. The Actors Guild of Nigeria dismissed the reports as false at the time.
Similar rumors resurfaced in November 2021, around the period Silva first spoke publicly about her husband’s dementia diagnosis in an interview with Channels Television. Jacobs appeared in public later that month at the Africa International Film Festival, where he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
READ ALSO: 10 Things You May Not Know About Late Actor Olu Jacobs
Rumors returned again in 2022. The most widely circulated hoax came on June 30, 2024, when reports of his death prompted tributes across social media before his son released a video showing Jacobs alive, seated for a haircut and beard trim at home. Kate Henshaw and Betty Irabor, publisher of Genevieve Magazine and a close friend of Silva’s, both publicly denied the reports that day. Irabor wrote on social media: “Olu Jacob is well and alive. Please ignore all rumours of his passing.”
At the time, Soji Jacobs told reporters the family found the recurring rumors distressing. Silva also reportedly considered legal action against those responsible for spreading the 2024 hoax.
Olu Jacobs’ screen career spanned more than four decades. He is survived by his wife, Joke Silva, and their two children.
