Olu Jacobs, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated actors and a foundational figure in the Nollywood film industry, has died at the age of 84, his family said on Wednesday.
His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced the death in a social media post, describing his father as “the Lion of Lufodo” and thanking well-wishers for their support over the years. The family asked bloggers and social media users to respect their privacy while they grieve.
Born Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs on July 11, 1942, in Kano, he trained at Britain’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and launched his career on British television and stage in the early 1970s before returning to Nigeria, where he became a driving force behind the growth of the country’s film industry.
Jacobs was known for his commanding screen presence and deep voice, taking on roles ranging from monarchs and patriarchs to politicians across a career spanning more than five decades. He and his wife, actress Joke Silva, founded the Lufodo Group, a media company encompassing film production and an academy for performing arts.
In recent years, Silva had spoken publicly about her husband’s diagnosis with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological condition.
News of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes from Nigerian entertainers and fans, who credited him with mentoring younger generations of actors and helping build Nollywood into one of the world’s largest film industries by output.
No cause of death was given in the family’s statement.
