From London theatre to Nollywood sets, Oludotun Baiyewunmi Jacobs, spent more than 50 years building one of the most respected careers in African acting.
He died on September 16, 2026 at 84.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in a joint Instagram post by his wife, actress Joke Silva, and son, Olusoji.
Born July 11, 1942, Jacobs cut his teeth at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. That training took him into British TV and Hollywood in the late 70s and 80s.
Viewers first saw him as Commissioner Batak in Ashanti (1979), then as a Customs Officer in The Dogs of War (1980). He later played Colonel Nsogbu in Disney’s Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) and Boomako in Roman Polanski’s Pirates (1986).
When he returned fully to Nigeria, Jacobs became a pillar of the growing film industry. With his trademark baritone and commanding presence, he moved easily between kings, chiefs, legal giants and community elders.
Alongside Joke Silva, he co-founded Lufodo Group and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts. The company produced films, managed talent, and trained young actors. According to Lufodo, Jacobs featured in more than 300 Nigerian titles during his career.
Beyond acting, he worked as a producer and stage director, and was a consistent voice on welfare, professionalism and IP rights in Nollywood. In 2007 he received a national honour as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
International Breakouts
1. Ashanti (1979) – Commissioner Batak
2. The Dogs of War (1980) – Customs Officer
3. Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) – Colonel Nsogbu
4. Pirates (1986) – Boomako
Modern Nollywood
5. Greatness (2007) – King
6. Smoke & Mirrors (2008) – Alhaji Sanni
7. League of Gentlemen (2009) – Chief Kolade
8. Bent Arrows (2010)
9. Sacred Lies (2011) – Theodore
10. White Chapel (2011) – Chief Tonye
11. Adesuwa (2012) – Ezomo
12. Potomanto (2013) – Bankole
13. The Antique (2014)
14. Bloody Ring (2014) – Osuma
15. Oloibiri (2015) – Timipre
16. Dry (2015) – Speaker
17. One Fine Day (2015)
18. The Royal Hibiscus Hotel (2017) – Richard
19. Victims (2017) – Baba Deolu
20. Unveil (2017)
Home Video era
21. A Better Tomorrow
22. A Better Tomorrow 2
23. Days of Gloom
24. Days of Gloom 2
25. Royal King
26. Royal King 2
27. Palace Slave
28. Palace Slave 2
29. Power of a Kiss
30. A Weeping Soul
Other credited roles include characters such as Oba Ekpen and Mr. Johnson in various Nigerian productions.
For decades, Jacobs set the standard for screen authority in Nigeria. Whether in an epic, a romance, or a social drama, his presence gave weight to the story.
He is survived by his wife Joke Silva, children and grandchildren. The family has asked for privacy at this time.