Podium Reporters gathered that the Nigerian entertainment industry has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of veteran actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs. He was 84.
His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced the devastating news in an Instagram post on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The family said they were announcing his passing “with gratitude to God for a life well lived and fought,” describing the legendary thespian as “The Lion of Lufodo.” They also appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before launching a career that took him from British television to becoming one of Nollywood’s defining figures. He appeared in over 100 films and won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007. He also received the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011.
In recent years, Jacobs lived with Lewy body dementia, a condition that kept him away from the active movie scene. He is survived by his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, and their children and grandchildren.