Olu Jacobs

Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, MFR ⓘ (born 11 July 1942), known professionally as Olu Jacobs, is a veteran Nigerian actor and film executive. He began his career starring in several British television series and international films. Vanguard described him as one of the "godfathers of Nollywood", along with Pete Edochie. Trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, England, Olu Jacobs worked with various repertoire theatres in Britain and starred in some international movies.

In 2007, Jacobs won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He received the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards and the MAA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. He was conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011.

Biography

Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs was born to parents from Egba Alake. He spent his early childhood in Kano and attended Holy Trinity School where he was a member of the debating and drama societies. He was inspired to take a chance with acting when he attended one of Chief Hubert Ogunde's annual concert parties at Colonial Hotel in Kano. Afterwards, he secured a visa and travelled to England to study acting.

In England, Jacobs trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. One of his earliest stage roles was to play the part of The Boy in 'A Taste of Honey' at the newly opened Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, in 1972. He then appeared in various British television shows and series in the 1970s (including The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, The Venturers, Angels, 1990, The Tomorrow People and The Professionals). In 1978, he played the role of President Mageeba in Michael Codron's presentation of Sir Tom Stoppard's play Night and Day.

In the 1980s, Jacobs appeared in several international films, including John Irvin's war film The Dogs of War, Roman Polanski's adventure-comedy Pirates (1986) and the family-adventure film Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985). On television, he was a cast member in TVS's The Witches and the Grinnygog. In 1990, upon his return to Nigeria, he starred in the NTA detective series The Third Eye.

Jacobs has subsequently starred in over 120 Nollywood films and is considered one of the top Nigerian Nollywood actors. He has also appeared in television commercials for food company Ribena and electronic giant, Binatone.

Personal life

Jacobs has been married to fellow Nollywood actor Joke Silva since 1989. They have two children. Asked why his wife still bears her maiden name, Jacobs answered: "She is her own individual. When I met her, she was an actress known as Joke Silva; so why should marrying me now deny her and her audience her name. She is Miss Joke Silva who is also Mrs. Joke Jacobs. It is as simple as that. People began to say what they like. They have even written that we are separated and all sorts of stuff. When she is working, she is Joke Silva and as well as Mrs. Joke Jacobs at home." The couple founded and operate the Lufodo Group, a media corporation that consists of film production, distribution assets and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.

Rumours that Jacobs had died circulated in 2021, until he attended Afriff in November 2021 where he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. His wife Silva later revealed in an interview with Chude Jideonwo that he is battling Dementia with Lewy bodies.

Accolades

In 2011, the Nigerian president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan awarded Jacobs the national honour of a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic for his long service in the film industry. He received the accolade in a ceremony that year.

Olu Jacobs was honoured with the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.

In August 2022, he was presented an icon award and a membership certificate along with his wife by Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS)

Stage (selected)

Filmography

Film

Television

External links

• at IMDb
• at the TCM Movie Database