Veteran Nollywood Actor Olu Jacobs Dies At 84

Veteran Nollywood actor Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84, according to an Instagram post shared by his son on September 16. Jacobs, known as the "Lion of Lufodo," had a legendary career spanning over five decades, both in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Born in 1942, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and made early appearances in British television classics like "The Goodies" and "The Professionals."

Jacobs returned to Nigeria in the 1980s to help establish the thriving Nollywood film industry, where he played authoritative monarchs and beloved father figures. His personal health battle became public in 2021 when his wife, Joke Silva, revealed that he had been diagnosed with Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Jacobs received the national honor of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011 and the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.

The family requested privacy as they mourned the loss of their beloved husband, father, grandfather, and uncle.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Chronicle Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.