Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.
Jacobs died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced his death in a statement shared on Instagram.
The family described Jacobs as a husband, father, grandfather and uncle, while referring to him as “The Lion of Lufodo.”
The statement gave his lifespan as July 11, 1942, to September 16, 2026, and appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect the family’s privacy.
No cause of death was disclosed.
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Born in 1942, Jacobs built a decades-long career across stage, television and film in Britain and Nigeria.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before appearing in British television productions and international films.
After returning to Nigeria, he became one of the country’s most recognised actors, featuring in numerous stage and screen productions and earning several honours for his contribution to the performing arts.
Jacobs also ventured into film production and training through the Lufodo Group and Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, which he established with his wife, actress Joke Silva.
He received the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and was honoured by the Nigerian government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011.
His death marks the end of a career spanning several decades and covering theatre, television, film production and Nollywood.