Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, Listenⓘ (born 11 July 1942), known professionally as Olu Jacobs, is a veteran Nigerian actor and film executive.[1] He began his career starring in several British television series and international films.[2]Vanguard described him as one of the "godfathers of Nollywood", along with Pete Edochie.[3][4][5] Trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, England, Olu Jacobs worked with various repertoire theatres in Britain and starred in some international movies.
Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs was born to parents from Egba Alake. He spent his early childhood in Kano[10] and attended Holy Trinity School where he was a member of the debating and drama societies.[11] He was inspired to take a chance with acting when he attended one of Chief Hubert Ogunde's annual concert party at Colonial Hotel in Kano.[10] Afterwards, he secured a visa and travelled to England to study acting.[12]
Jacobs has subsequently starred in over 120 Nollywood films and is considered one of the top Nigerian Nollywood actors.[3] He has also appeared in television commercials for food companyRibena and electronic giant, Binatone.[16]
Personal life
Jacobs has been married to fellow Nollywood actor Joke Silva since 1989. They have two children.[17] 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 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."[18] 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 Jacob had died circulated in 2021, until he attended Afriff in November 2021 where he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.[19] His wife Silva later revealed in an interview with Chude Jideonwo that he is battling Dementia with Lewy bodies.[20]
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)
[22][23]
Stage (selected)
Year
Show
Role
Notes
1971
Murderous Angels: A Political Tragedy and Comedy in Black and White (play)
Written by Conor Cruise O'Brien and performed at the Dublin Theatre Festival in 1971
^Fleischer, Richard (21 February 1979), Ashanti (Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Thriller), Michael Caine, Peter Ustinov, Kabir Bedi, Beverly Johnson, Beverly Films, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros., archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 3 February 2021
^Irvin, John (18 December 1980), The Dogs of War (Action, Adventure, Drama), Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger, Colin Blakely, Hugh Millais, Juniper Films, archived from the original on 9 May 2023, retrieved 3 February 2021
^Norton, Bill (22 March 1985), Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (Family, Adventure, Sci-Fi), William Katt, Sean Young, Patrick McGoohan, Julian Fellowes, Silver Screen Partners II, Touchstone Pictures, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 3 February 2021
^Polanski, Roman (8 May 1986), Pirates (Adventure, Comedy, Family), Walter Matthau, Cris Campion, Damien Thomas, Olu Jacobs, Carthago Films S.a.r.l., Accent Films, Cominco, archived from the original on 23 April 2023, retrieved 3 February 2021
^Graham, Curtis (21 October 2016), Oloibiri (Action, Drama, Thriller), Reeko Brooks, Michael Douglas Cake, Diana Colmar-Espinosa, Payton Dunham, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 3 February 2021
^Linus, Stephanie (14 August 2015), Dry (Drama), Ferdinand Afo, Rekiya Attah, Samuel Beavis, Liz Benson-Ameye, Next Page Productions, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 3 February 2021
^Bako, Ishaya (10 February 2018), The Royal Hibiscus Hotel (Comedy, Romance), Zainab Balogun, Kenneth Okolie, Jide Kosoko, Rachel Oniga, EbonyLife Films, archived from the original on 22 April 2023, retrieved 3 February 2021