Veteran Actor Olu Jacobs Dies at 84

Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.

His death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, on Instagram on Wednesday.

The family described the late actor as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect its privacy at the time of his death.

Olu Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s prominent veteran actors, with a career spanning theatre, television and film. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England before beginning his acting career in Britain.

He later returned to Nigeria and became a major figure in Nollywood.

Jacobs won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and received the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

He was also conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011. He was married to fellow veteran actress Joke Silva.