Veteran Nollywood Actor Olu Jacobs Dies at 84, Family Confirms

Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs died at age 84, his family announced on Wednesday morning via social media. The family statement, signed by his son Olusoji Jacobs, described him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle, and appealed for privacy from bloggers and influencers. No cause of death was disclosed.

Born in 1942, Jacobs trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and appeared in British TV classics such as "The Goodies" and "The Professionals" before returning to Nigeria in the 1980s to help pioneer Nollywood. He became known for authoritative monarch and father‑figure roles, earned the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011 and the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Industry Merit Award. In 2021 his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, revealed he had been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies, ending years of false health rumors online.

Tributes flooded social media from peers like Mr Macaroni, Shawn Faqua, Darey Art Alade and many others, celebrating his legacy as a patriarch of Nigerian cinema. The Lufodo Group, which he co‑founded with Silva, continues to train creative talent across the country.

What does his passing mean for Nollywood’s future, and how will the industry honour the standards he set for acting excellence and mentorship?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/16/breaking-nollywood-icon-olu-jacobs-dead-at-84/