Olu Jacobs

{{Infobox person

| name = Olu Jacobs

| image = Olujacobs.jpg

| imagesize = 220

| alt = Olu Jacobs

| caption = Olu Jacobs at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, March 2007

| birth_name = Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1942|07|11}}

| othername =

| nationality = Nigerian

| education = Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 1970–present

| television = The Goodies
Till Death Us Do Part
Barlow at Large
The Venturers
Angels
The Tomorrow People

The Professionals
The Third Eye

| spouse = Joke Silva

| website =

}}

Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, {{Audio|Yo-Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs.ogg|Listen|help=no}} (born 11 July 1942), known professionally as Olu Jacobs, is a veteran Nigerian actor and film executive.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-31|title=July: Of Exuberance and Melancholy|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/07/31/july-of-exuberance-and-melancholy/|access-date=2021-08-21|website=THISDAYLIVE|language=en-US|archive-date=21 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821163839/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/07/31/july-of-exuberance-and-melancholy/|url-status=live}} He began his career starring in several British television series and international films.{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/103563?view=credit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522052823/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/103563?view=credit|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 May 2009|title=Filmography of Olu Jacobs|publisher=The British Film Institute|access-date=12 August 2010|location=London, UK}} Vanguard described him as one of the "godfathers of Nollywood", along with Pete Edochie.{{cite web |last1=Njoku |first1=Benjamin |title=Pete Edochie, Olu Jacobs: The living 'godfathers' of Nollywood |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/pete-edochie-olu-jacobs-the-living-godfathers-of-nollywood/ |website=Vanguard News |access-date=10 July 2020 |date=4 March 2019 |archive-date=13 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013023035/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/pete-edochie-olu-jacobs-the-living-godfathers-of-nollywood// |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|date=2022-01-11|title=Olu Jacobs: Patriarch of the movie world|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/01/olu-jacobs-patriarch-of-the-movie-world/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US|archive-date=11 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111125948/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/01/olu-jacobs-patriarch-of-the-movie-world/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2009-11-20 |title=I disobeyed my dad to become an actor - Olu Jacobs |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/i-disobeyed-my-dad-to-become-an-actor-olu-jacobs/ |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705190748/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/i-disobeyed-my-dad-to-become-an-actor-olu-jacobs/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/allaccess/bob/10420161422.htm|title=A Race for Stars Only|last=Ogbu|first=Rachel|work=Newswatch|access-date=9 August 2010|location=Lagos, Nigeria|archive-date=13 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013023039/https://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/allaccess/bob/10420161422.htm/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ama-awards.com/winners2007.html|title=Nominees & Winners of AMAA 2007 @ a glance|publisher=The Africa Movie Academy Awards|access-date=11 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210070846/http://www.ama-awards.com/winners2007.html|archive-date=10 December 2007|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mshale.com/article.cfm?articleID=1407|title=Africa Celebrates Film Industry at AMAA 2007|last=Coker|first=Onikepo|date=4 May 2007|work=Mshale Newspaper|publisher=Mshale Communications|access-date=5 September 2010|location=Minneapolis, USA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303204433/http://www.mshale.com/article.cfm?articleID=1407|archive-date=3 March 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://ama-awards.com/amaa-nominees-and-winners-2007|title=AMAA Nominees and Winners 2007|publisher=Africa Movie Academy Awards|access-date=17 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012165834/http://www.ama-awards.com/amaa-nominees-and-winners-2007|archive-date=12 October 2010}} 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.

Biography

Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs was born to parents from Egba Alake. He spent his early childhood in Kano{{cite news |last=Otagbo |first=Olasumbo |date=18 October 2014 |title=How Hubert Ogunde inspired me to become an actor -Olu Jacobs |url=http://thenationonlineng.net/how-hubert-ogunde-inspired-me-to-become-an-actor-olu-jacobs/ |newspaper=The Nation |location=Lagos |access-date=27 June 2016 |archive-date=13 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013023050/https://thenationonlineng.net/how-hubert-ogunde-inspired-me-to-become-an-actor-olu-jacobs// |url-status=live }} and attended Holy Trinity School where he was a member of the debating and drama societies.[https://archive.today/20130629223516/http://www.naijarules.com/vb/nollywood-movie-stars/20070-my-happiest-moment-acting-olu-jacobs.html "My Happiest Moment In Acting – Olu Jacobs"], Naijarules.com. 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. Afterwards, he secured a visa and travelled to England to study acting.{{Cite web |last=Ugochukwu |first=Françoise |date=2022-01-20 |title=Olu Jacobs: Nollywood’s elder statesman has always acted for his country |url=http://theconversation.com/olu-jacobs-nollywoods-elder-statesman-has-always-acted-for-his-country-172658 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}

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).{{cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/21/i-disobeyed-my-dad-to-become-an-actor-olu-jacobs/|title=I disobeyed my dad to become an actor – Olu Jacobs|last=Njoku|first=Benjamin|work=The Vanguard|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=9 August 2010|archive-date=25 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225065247/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/21/i-disobeyed-my-dad-to-become-an-actor-olu-jacobs/|url-status=live}} 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.A BBC-2 series that traces the history of acting. (14 July 1983). The Stage and Television Today (Archive: 1959–1994), 15 In 1990, upon his return to Nigeria, he starred in the NTA detective series The Third Eye.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thisdaystyle.ng/olu-jacobs-fighting-challenges-at-80/ |title=Olu Jacobs Fighting Challenges |access-date=4 February 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204070812/https://www.thisdaystyle.ng/olu-jacobs-fighting-challenges-at-80/ |url-status=live }}

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 companyRibena and electronic giant, Binatone.{{Cite web |url=https://punchng.com/i-bought-my-dad-his-best-tobacco-as-bribe-to-become-an-actor-olu-jacobs/ |title=I Bought My Dad His Best Tobacco |access-date=4 February 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204070106/https://punchng.com/i-bought-my-dad-his-best-tobacco-as-bribe-to-become-an-actor-olu-jacobs/ |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Jacobs has been married to fellow Nollywood actor Joke Silva since 1989. They have two children.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showtime/2009/oct/16/showtime-16-10-2009-001.htm|title=How I met Joke Sylva – Olu Jacobs|publisher=The Sun Publishing Limited|access-date=9 August 2010|location=Lagos, Nigeria|archive-date=2 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202133427/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showtime/2009/oct/16/showtime-16-10-2009-001.htm|url-status=live}} 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."{{Cite news|url=http://www.mjemagazine.com/wife-still-bears-maiden-name-actor-olu-jacobs/|title=Why My Wife Still Bears Her Maiden Name – Actor Olu Jacobs – MJ Celebrity Magazine|date=9 December 2013|newspaper=MJ Celebrity Magazine|access-date=8 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220074125/http://www.mjemagazine.com/wife-still-bears-maiden-name-actor-olu-jacobs/|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Obey|first=Yinka|date=2021-11-17|title=Pale-looking Olu Jacobs attends Afriff, wins lifetime achievement award|url=https://www.legit.ng/entertainment/nollywood/1443447-pale-looking-veteran-actor-olu-jacobs-attends-afriff-with-wife-joke-silva-wins-lifetime-achievement-award/|access-date=2021-11-18|website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news.|language=en|archive-date=18 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118084813/https://www.legit.ng/entertainment/nollywood/1443447-pale-looking-veteran-actor-olu-jacobs-attends-afriff-with-wife-joke-silva-wins-lifetime-achievement-award/|url-status=live}} His wife Silva later revealed in an interview with Chude Jideonwo that he is battling Dementia with Lewy bodies.{{Cite news|title='I miss di old Olu Jacobs well-well' - Joke Silva open up on her husband dementia and her life tori|work=BBC News Pidgin|url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-59355183|access-date=2021-11-22|archive-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122091106/https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-59355183|url-status=live}}

Accolades

Olu Jacobs was honoured with the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/olu-jacobs-honoured-at-amvca-awards-as-genevieve-and-funke-akindele-lose-out/ |title=Olu Jacobs honoured at AMVCA awards as Genevieve, Funke Akindele lose out |publisher=Vanguard Newspaper |date=10 March 2013 |access-date=9 July 2014 |archive-date=13 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013023053/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/olu-jacobs-honoured-at-amvca-awards-as-genevieve-and-funke-akindele-lose-out// |url-status=live }}

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)

{{cite web |title=From audio-visual rights society, garlands for legendary Olu Jacobs |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/c105-saturday-magazine/from-audio-visual-rights-society-garlands-for-legendary-olu-jacobs/ |website=The Guardian |access-date=6 August 2022 |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806232722/https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/c105-saturday-magazine/from-audio-visual-rights-society-garlands-for-legendary-olu-jacobs/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web | title=AVRS honours Olu Jacobs & Ajoke Silva with membership certificates | website=Pulse Nigeria | date=August 4, 2022 | url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/avrs-honours-olu-jacobs-and-ajoke-silva-with-membership-certificates/pvqxye1 | access-date=August 9, 2022 | archive-date=11 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811153927/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/avrs-honours-olu-jacobs-and-ajoke-silva-with-membership-certificates/pvqxye1 | url-status=live }}

Stage (selected)

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:95%;"
Year ! Show ! Role ! width="60%" class="unsortable"\| Notes
style="text-align:center;"\| 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
style="text-align:center;"\| 1972 \| Richard's Cork Leg \| \| Royal Court Theatre, London
style="text-align:center;"\| 1974 \| Black Mans Country \| Father Zachary Azuka \| Gate Theatre
style="text-align:center;"\| 1977 \| Julius Caesar \| One of the augerers \| Royal National Theater 1977 presentation directed by John Schlesinger
style="text-align:center;"\| 1976 \| Bar Beach Prelude and Transistor Radio \| \| Two shorts play adapted from the works of Bode Sowande and Ken Saro Wiwa
style="text-align:center;"\| 1976 \| A Kind of Marriage \| Obi \| Centre Play
style="text-align:center;"\| 1977 \| Old Movies \| Chris Hunter (gendarmes) \| National Theatre presentation
style="text-align:center;"\| 1978 \| Night and Day \| President Mageeba \| Phoenix Theatre (London)

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:95%;"

Year

! Show

! Role

! width="60%" class="unsortable"| Notes

style="text-align:center;"| 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

style="text-align:center;"| 1972

| Richard's Cork Leg

| Royal Court Theatre, London

style="text-align:center;"| 1974

| Black Mans Country

| Father Zachary Azuka

| Gate Theatre

style="text-align:center;"| 1977

| Julius Caesar

| One of the augerers

| Royal National Theater 1977 presentation directed by John Schlesinger

style="text-align:center;"| 1976

| Bar Beach Prelude and Transistor Radio

| Two shorts play adapted from the works of Bode Sowande and Ken Saro Wiwa

style="text-align:center;"| 1976

| A Kind of Marriage

| Obi

| Centre Play

style="text-align:center;"| 1977

| Old Movies

| Chris Hunter (gendarmes)

| National Theatre presentation

style="text-align:center;"| 1978

| Night and Day

| President Mageeba

| Phoenix Theatre (London)

Filmography

File:Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva.jpg

= Film =

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role

! style="background:#B0C4DE;" class="unsortable" | Notes

1979

| Ashanti

| Commissioner Batak

|{{Citation|last=Fleischer|first=Richard|title=Ashanti|date=1979-02-21|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078801/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_191|type=Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery, Thriller|others=Michael Caine, Peter Ustinov, Kabir Bedi, Beverly Johnson|publisher=Beverly Films, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros.|access-date=2021-02-03|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422202038/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078801/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_191|url-status=live}}

1980

| The Dogs of War

| Customs Officer

|{{Citation|last=Irvin|first=John|title=The Dogs of War|date=1980-12-18|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080641/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk1|type=Action, Adventure, Drama|others=Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger, Colin Blakely, Hugh Millais|publisher=Juniper Films|access-date=2021-02-03|archive-date=9 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509033249/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080641/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk1|url-status=live}}

1985

| Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend

| Col. Nsogbu

|{{Citation|last=Norton|first=Bill|title=Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend|date=1985-03-22|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088760/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk2|type=Family, Adventure, Sci-Fi|others=William Katt, Sean Young, Patrick McGoohan, Julian Fellowes|publisher=Silver Screen Partners II, Touchstone Pictures|access-date=2021-02-03|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422202043/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088760/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk2|url-status=live}}

1986

| Pirates

| Boomako

|{{Citation|last=Polanski|first=Roman|title=Pirates|date=1986-05-08|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091757/?ref_=nm_knf_t4|type=Adventure, Comedy, Family|others=Walter Matthau, Cris Campion, Damien Thomas, Olu Jacobs|publisher=Carthago Films S.a.r.l., Accent Films, Cominco|access-date=2021-02-03|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423133519/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091757/?ref_=nm_knf_t4|url-status=live}}

2007

|Greatness

|King

2008

|Smoke & Mirrors

|Alhaji Sanni

2009

|League of Gentlemen

|Chief Kolade

2010

|Bent Arrows

|Mr. Johnson

2011

|Sacred Lies

|Theodore

2011

|White Chapel

|chief Tonye

2012

| Adesuwa

| Ezomo

2013

|Potomanto

|Bankole

|{{Cite web|title=Sparrow Productions bounces back with 'Four Big Things' - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/sparrow-productions-bounces-back-with-four-big-things/|access-date=2021-02-03|website=www.myjoyonline.com|language=en-US|archive-date=5 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005105739/https://www.myjoyonline.com/sparrow-productions-bounces-back-with-four-big-things/|url-status=live}}

2014

|The Antique

|Oba Ekpen

2014

|Bloody Ring

|Osuma

2015

| Oloibiri

| Timipre

|{{Citation|last=Graham|first=Curtis|title=Oloibiri|date=2016-10-21|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4452274/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3|type=Action, Drama, Thriller|others=Reeko Brooks, Michael Douglas Cake, Diana Colmar-Espinosa, Payton Dunham|access-date=2021-02-03|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422202040/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4452274/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3|url-status=live}}

2015

| Dry

| Speaker

|{{Citation|last=Linus|first=Stephanie|title=Dry|date=2015-08-14|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3780508/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2|type=Drama|others=Ferdinand Afo, Rekiya Attah, Samuel Beavis, Liz Benson-Ameye|publisher=Next Page Productions|access-date=2021-02-03|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422202045/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3780508/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2|url-status=live}}

2015

|One Fine Day

2017

|The Royal Hibiscus Hotel

| Richard

|{{Citation|last=Bako|first=Ishaya|title=The Royal Hibiscus Hotel|date=2018-02-10|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7229730/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1|type=Comedy, Romance|others=Zainab Balogun, Kenneth Okolie, Jide Kosoko, Rachel Oniga|publisher=EbonyLife Films|access-date=2021-02-03|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422202035/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7229730/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1|url-status=live}}

2017

|Victims

|Baba Deolu

|{{Citation |last=Imasuen |first=Lancelot Oduwa |title=Victims |type=Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19414614/?ref_=nm_flmg_c_1_act |access-date=2024-06-18 |others=Funso Adeolu, Aladesanmi Adeyemi, Mercy Aigbe |publisher=MAG Production}}

2017

|Unveil