Legendary Nigerian actor, Olu Jacobs is one of the oldest moviemaker in the country right now, he is also a producer, director, television personality, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist.
Early Life/Education
Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, populaly known as Olu Jacobs was born on July 11th, 1942 to parents from Egba Alake town in Abeokuta South local government area of Ogun State, Nigeria.
Jacobs was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State in the western part of Nigeria but spent his early childhood in Kano State in the northern part of the country. He attended Holy Trinity School in Kano State where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate.
After he completed his secondary school education in Lagos State and obtained his West African Senior School Certificate. He began acting while in secondary school where he was an active member of a drama club. After completing his secondary school education, he proceeded to England in the United Kingdom to study acting at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art London.
Career
In England, he starred in various British television shows and series in the 1970s (e.g. The Goodies, Till Death Do Us Part, Barlow at Large, The Venturers, Angels, 1990, The Tomorrow People, The Professionals). In 1978, he played the role of President Mageeba in Michael Codron’s presentation of Tom Stoppard’s play Night and Day.
In the 1980s Jacobs starred in several international films some of which include 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 in TVS’s The Witches and the Grinnygog (1983 series). Jacobs has starred in over 250 Nollywood films and is considered one of the top Nigerian Nollywood actors.
Olu Jacobs is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal Arts Academy. A movie school is known for training movie practitioners in acting, directing, producing, scriptwriting, photography, costumier, makeup, editing, modelling, set designed and various aspects of movie-making.
Controversy
Olu Jacobs is one Nigerian celebrity whose tab is a clean slate except for the number of times where he had been rumoured to be dead. Sometime in June 2020, the veteran thespian was rumoured dead and again very recently, he was rumoured to be dead in October 2021. Talk about a scandal free Nigerian celebrity/Nollywood actor, Olu Jacobs tops the list. The veteran thespian who only makes the rounds online for positive reasons is arguably everyone’s favorite.
Movies
- The Royal Hibiscus Hotel
- Dry
- Bloody Ring
- Potomanto
- Covert Operaion
- A Better Tomorrow
- A Better Tomorrow 2
- Days of Gloom
- Days of Gloom 2
- Royal King
- Royal King 2
- Sacred Lies
- Sacred Lies 2
- Sacred Lies 3
- Sacred Lies 4
- The Seekers
- The Seekers 2
- White Chapel
- White Chapel 2
- Bent Arrows
- Bitter Generation
- Bitter Generation 2
- Bitter Generation 3
- Bitter Generation 4
- Palace Slave
- Palace Slave 2
- Palace Slave 3
- Palace Slave 4
- Power of a Kiss
- Power of a Kiss 2
- A Weeping Soul
- A Weeping Soul 2
- Forest of Tears
- Forest of Tears 2
- Forest of Tears 3
- Forest of Tears 4
- Last Mogul of the League
- Last Mogul of the League 2
- League of Gentlemen
- League of Gentlemen
- Royal Tears
- Royal Tears 2
- Sound of Pain
- Sound of Pain 2
- Tears of Hope
- Tears of Hope 2
- A Can of Worms
- A Can of Worms 2
- Beauty and the Beast
- Beauty and the Beast 2
- Beauty and the Beast 3
- Hidden Treasure
- Hidden Treasure 2
- Mirror of Beauty 2
- Perfect Temptation
- Perfect Temptation 2
- Piece of My Soul
- Piece of My Soul 2
- Piece of My Soul 3
- Sister’s Love
- Sister’s Love 2
- Sister’s Love 3
- Sister’s Love 4
- Smoke & Mirrors
- The Return of Ogidi
- The Return of Ogidi 2
- Throne of Tears
- Throne of Tears 2
- Total Love
- Total Love 2
- Mirror of Beauty
- African Soldier
- African Soldier 2
- Burning Kingdom
- Burning Kingdom 2
- Eewo orisa
- Eewo orisa 2
- Final Kingdom
- Final Kingdom 2
- Greatness
- Greatness 2
- Kingdom Apart
- Kingdom Apart 2
- Lost in the Jungle
- Lost in the Jungle 2
- Mountains of Evil
- Mountains of Evil 2
- Odudu Kingdom
- Odudu Kingdom 2
- Odudu Kingdom 3
- Old Testament
- Old Testament 2
- Royal Destiny
- Royal Destiny 2
- Secret Pledge
- Secret Pledge 2
- Show Me Heaven
- Show Me Heaven 2
- Show Me Heaven 3
- Slave to Lust
- Slave to Lust 2
- The Cabals
- The Cabals 2
- The Prince and Me
- The Prince and Me 2
- Warrior’s Heart
- Warrior’s Heart 2
- Warrior’s Heart 3
- Dancing Heart
- Dancing Heart 2
- End of Battle
- End of Battle 2
- Jealous Heart
- Jealous Heart 2
- One-Bullet
- One-Bullet 2
- Royal Doom
- Royal Doom 2
- 21 Days with Christ
- 21 Days with Christ 2
- A Time to Die
- A Time to Die 2
- Before the Sunrise
- Before the Sunrise 2
- Eagle’s Bride
- Eagle’s Bride 2
- Lonely Heart
- Lonely Heart 2
- Omaliko
- Omaliko 2
- One God One Nation
- One God One Nation 2
- Only Love
- Only Love 2
- Opin irin ajo
- Opin irin ajo 2
- Real Love 2
- Real Love 3
- Royal Palace
- Soul on Fire
- Soul on Fire 2
- The God to Serve
- The God to Serve 2
- To Love a Stranger
- To Love a Stranger 2
- Ultimate Crisis
- Women in Power
- Women in Power 2
- Arsenal
- Arsenal 2
- Dear Sister
- Eye of the Gods
- Eye of the Gods 2
- House Party
- House Party 2
- Turn Table
- Turn Table 2
- Private Sin
- Private Sin 2
- Real Love
- The Kingmaker
- Unconditional Love
- Ago kan oru
- Fear of the Unknown
- Mission to Africa
- Keeping Faith: Is That Love?
- The Last Vote
- Aba Riot
- Aba Riot 2
- Endtime
- Oganigwe
- Twins of the Rain Forest
- Obstacles
- Another Love
- Iva
- Vigilante
- Pirates
- Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend
Awards
Jacobs has won several awards which include Most Prominent Actor in Nigeria at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Best Actor in Nigeria at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Best Actor of the Year at the Golden Icon Movie Academy Awards and Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the City People Entertainment Awards. In 2007, he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He was honoured with the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. He has also been honored by the Federal Government of Nigeria as a Member of the Order of Federal Republic (MFR)
Personal Life
Jacobs is married to veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva since 1989. They have 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 Mrs. Joke Jacobs. It is as simple as that. People now begin to say what they like. They have even written that we are separated and all sort of stuff. When she is working, she is Joke Silva but she is Mrs. Joke Jacobs at home.”
Social Media
Instagram: @_olujacobs