Olu Jacobs died on September 16, 2026. He was 84 years old. His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced the news on Instagram. He called his father “The Lion of Lufodo.” For over five decades, Olu Jacobs stood as one of Nigeria’s most respected actors. He trained in London, worked in British theatre, and helped build Nollywood into what it is today. His death closes one of the longest and most respected careers in Nigerian film.
| Date of Birth | July 11, 1942 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | September 16, 2026 |
| Aged | 84 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Net Worth | $2 Million – $4 Million |
| Real Name | Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs |
| Birthplace | Kano, Kano State, Nigeria |
| State of Origin | Ogun State |
| Spouse | Joke Silva (m. 1989) |
| Children | Dayo, Olusoji, Olugbenga |
| Alma Mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London |
| Known For | Godfather of Nollywood, Lufodo Group |
| Awards | AMAA Best Actor (2007), MFR (2011) |
| Health Condition | Dementia with Lewy bodies (disclosed 2021) |
Biography
Olu Jacobs was born Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs on July 11, 1942, in Kano, Kano State. His parents were Yoruba, from Egba Alake in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He spent his early childhood in Kano before the family’s roots pulled him back toward the southwest later in life.
He attended Holy Trinity School, where he joined the debating and drama societies. That early interest in performance carried him abroad. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, one of the most respected drama schools in the world, and it shaped the rest of his career.
Career
Olu Jacobs started his acting career in Britain. He worked with several repertory theatres and appeared in international film and television productions. That training gave him a discipline that set him apart when he later moved into Nigerian film.
Back home, he became one of the industry’s defining figures. Vanguard once called him one of the “godfathers of Nollywood,” alongside Pete Edochie. He brought a stage-trained precision to Nigerian cinema at a time when the industry was still finding its footing, and younger actors often pointed to him as a standard to match.
Beyond acting, Olu Jacobs built real infrastructure for the industry. He and his wife, Joke Silva, founded the Lufodo Group, which includes Lufodo Productions, Lufodo Distribution, Lufodo Consult, and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts. The academy trained a generation of young actors and stage performers, extending his influence well past his own screen work.
His film credits ran for decades. One notable later role came in Oloibiri (2016), a Nigerian action thriller where he starred alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo. His work earned him the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in 2007 and the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. In 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan honored him with the national title of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
Personal Life
Olu Jacobs met Joke Silva in 1981, during pre-production for a stage play in Lagos. The two married in 1989 and stayed together for the rest of his life. Joke Silva became a respected actress in her own right, and the couple built much of their later work together through the Lufodo Group.
They had three children. Their first, a daughter named Dayo, was born in 1987. She died in 1997 at age 10, after a serious illness. Their two sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga, survived their father. Olusoji later married Boma Douglas in a wedding held in Buguma, Rivers State.
In November 2021, Joke Silva spoke publicly for the first time about her husband’s health. She said he had dementia with Lewy bodies, a degenerative brain condition she compared to a form of Parkinson’s disease. After that disclosure, Olu Jacobs stepped back almost entirely from public life. Rumors of his death circulated more than once in the years that followed, in 2022 and again in 2024. Each time, Joke Silva denied them publicly and asked people to stop spreading false reports about her husband.
Death
Olu Jacobs died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. His son, Olusoji Jacobs, confirmed the news on Instagram. The family called him “a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle” and said he lived “a life well lived and fought.” They also gave him the title “The Lion of Lufodo,” a nod to the company he built with his wife.
Tributes followed quickly from across the Nigerian film industry. Just days earlier, veteran actress Patience Ozokwor had spoken publicly about her worry for him, alongside concerns for other aging Nollywood legends. Unlike the false alarms of past years, this time the family confirmed the news directly, ending years of speculation about his health with certainty.
Net Worth
Olu Jacobs built his wealth over more than five decades of steady work. His income came from acting fees earned across British theatre, international film, and decades of Nollywood productions. On top of that, the Lufodo Group added a second income stream, through the academy’s tuition fees and the group’s production and distribution arms.
Based on those sources, his net worth is estimated between $2 million and $4 million. That figure reflects a long, stable acting career rather than a single blockbuster payday, built up steadily through consistent work and a business he co-owned outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Olu Jacobs’ real name?
His full name was Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs.
When did Olu Jacobs die?
He died on September 16, 2026, at the age of 84.
What did Olu Jacobs die of?
His family did not give an official cause of death. He had lived with dementia with Lewy bodies since at least 2021.
Who was Olu Jacobs’ wife?
He was married to actress Joke Silva from 1989 until his death.
How many children did Olu Jacobs have?
Three. His daughter Dayo died in 1997 at age 10. His sons, Olusoji and Olugbenga, survive him.
What awards did Olu Jacobs win?
He won the AMAA Best Actor award in 2007, Nigeria’s MFR national honor in 2011, and the AMVCA Industry Merit Award in 2013.
More Actors and Actresses
More Nigerian Celebrities
More Cancer Celebrities
Related Articles
Top 10 Richest Nollywood Actresses in Nigeria (2025)
Spider-Noir Cast Ranked by Net Worth (Poorest to Richest)
Frank Edoho, Sandra Onyenucheya And Chike: Full Timeline Of Their Divorce Scandal
Top 20 Richest Nigerian Gospel Artists and Their Net Worth (2025)
Ayra Starr Set to Make NFL History as First Afrobeats Artist to Headline London Game Halftime Show
List of Nollywood Celebrities turned Pastors
List of awards won by a Nigerian music artist in AFRIMMA awards 2019