Olu Jacobs was more than a celebrated Nollywood actor. He was one of the Nigerian performers whose career stretched across continents, generations and different forms of storytelling.
Born in Kano to parents from Egba Alake, Jacobs discovered his passion for acting as a young boy before travelling to Britain to pursue formal training in the dramatic arts. His journey took him from school drama and stage performances in Nigeria to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, British television and international films, before he returned home and became one of the defining figures of Nigeria’s modern film industry.
Across a career spanning several decades, Jacobs built a reputation for commanding performances on stage, television and screen. He featured in more than 120 Nollywood films and received some of the industry’s most prestigious honours, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Beyond acting, Jacobs and his wife, fellow actress Joke Silva, built a family and a business empire through the Lufodo Group, which includes film production and distribution as well as an academy for performing arts.
Following his death at 84, here are key things to know about the life, career and legacy of one of Nigeria’s most respected actors.
Kano childhood and Egba roots
Olu Jacobs was born in July 1942 in Kano, although his parents were from Egba Alake in present-day Ogun State.
He spent his early years in Kano, where he attended Holy Trinity School. As a student, he participated in the school’s debating and drama societies, experiences that helped nurture his interest in performance.
The Hubert Ogunde encounter that changed his life
Jacobs’ decision to pursue acting professionally was influenced by an encounter with legendary Nigerian theatre practitioner Chief Hubert Ogunde.
As a young man in Kano, Jacobs attended one of Ogunde’s annual concert parties at the Colonial Hotel. The experience inspired him to take acting seriously.
Soon afterwards, he secured a visa and travelled to England to pursue formal training in acting.
Training at RADA in London
In Britain, Jacobs studied at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London.
His training provided the foundation for a career that would initially take him through British theatre and television before he became a household name in Nigeria.
His early stage career in Britain
One of Jacobs’ earliest recorded stage roles came in 1972, when he played The Boy in A Taste of Honey at the newly opened Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
His stage career demonstrated his versatility and opened the door to further opportunities in British theatre and television.
From British television to international films
During the 1970s, Jacobs appeared in several British television programmes and series, including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, The Venturers, Angels, 1990, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals.
In 1978, he played President Mageeba in Night and Day, a presentation of Sir Tom Stoppard’s play.
His international screen credits expanded during the 1980s. He appeared in films including The Dogs of War, Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend and Roman Polanski’s Pirates.
Return to Nigeria and The Third Eye
After years working abroad, Jacobs returned to Nigeria in 1990.
One of his notable early roles after his return was in the NTA detective series The Third Eye, which helped reconnect him with Nigerian television audiences.
His return coincided with the emergence and eventual expansion of what became known as Nollywood.
A Nollywood career spanning more than 120 films
Jacobs went on to establish himself as one of the most recognisable actors in Nigerian cinema.
He appeared in more than 120 Nollywood films, taking on roles that showcased his range and commanding screen presence.
His work also extended beyond films. He featured in television commercials for brands including Ribena and Binatone.
Major awards and national recognition
Jacobs’ contribution to acting earned him several major honours.
Among them were:
2007: Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
2011: National honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR)
2013: Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards
2016: MAA Lifetime Achievement Award
He was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in 2021.
Marriage to Joke Silva
Jacobs married fellow actress Joke Silva in 1989.
The couple have two children and became one of Nigeria’s best-known acting families.
Jacobs once explained why Silva continued to use her professional name, saying that she was an individual who had already established herself as an actress before their marriage.
His position was that marriage should not erase the professional identity she had built as Joke Silva.
Building the Lufodo Group
Beyond their individual acting careers, Jacobs and Silva built a business around the creative industry.
Together, they founded and operated the Lufodo Group, a media company with interests in film production and distribution.
The group also includes the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, reflecting the couple’s involvement not only in entertainment but also in developing talent in the performing arts.
The 2021 death rumour
In 2021, rumours circulated on social media that Jacobs had died.
The reports were later disproved when he appeared at AFRIFF in November 2021, where he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The episode highlighted the recurring problem of unverified death reports involving prominent Nigerian personalities.
His final years
In later years, Jacobs’ health became a subject of public discussion.
His wife, Joke Silva, disclosed in an interview with Chude Jideonwo that the actor was battling Lewy body dementia.
Despite his reduced public appearances, Jacobs remained an important figure in Nigeria’s entertainment history and continued to receive tributes and recognition for his contribution to the industry.
Death at 84
Olu Jacobs died on Wednesday at the age of 84.
His death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, on Instagram.
In announcing his passing, the family described him as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect the family’s privacy.
The statement described his death as the end of “a life well lived and fought”, marking the passing of an actor whose career bridged Nigerian theatre, British television, international cinema and Nollywood.
