Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, (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.
Olu Jacobs | |
|---|---|
 Olu Jacobs at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, March 2007 | |
| Born | Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs 11 July 1942 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Education | Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 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 |
In 2007, Jacobs won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[6][7][8][9] 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
editOludotun 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]
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).[13] 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.[14] In 1990, upon his return to Nigeria, he starred in the NTA detective series The Third Eye.[15]
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
editJacobs 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 was 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]
Accolades
editOlu Jacobs was honoured with the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards.[21]
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)
edit| 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 | |
| 1972 | Richard's Cork Leg | Royal Court Theatre, London | |
| 1974 | Black Mans Country | Father Zachary Azuka | Gate Theatre |
| 1977 | Julius Caesar | One of the augerers | Royal National Theater 1977 presentation directed by John Schlesinger |
| 1976 | Bar Beach Prelude and Transistor Radio | Two shorts play adapted from the works of Bode Sowande and Ken Saro Wiwa | |
| 1976 | A Kind of Marriage | Obi | Centre Play |
| 1977 | Old Movies | Chris Hunter (gendarmes) | National Theatre presentation |
| 1978 | Night and Day | President Mageeba | Phoenix Theatre (London) |
Filmography
edit
Film
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Ashanti | Commissioner Batak | [24] |
| 1980 | The Dogs of War | Customs Officer | [25] |
| 1985 | Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend | Col. Nsogbu | [26] |
| 1986 | Pirates | Boomako | [27] |
| 2010 | Bent Arrows | Mr. Johnson | |
| 2011 | Sacred Lies | Theodore | |
| 2011 | White Chapel | chief Tonye | |
| 2012 | Adesuwa | Ezomo | |
| 2013 | Potomanto | Bankole | [28] |
| 2014 | The Antique | Oba Ekpen | |
| 2014 | Bloody Ring | Osuma | |
| 2015 | Oloibiri | Timipre | [29] |
| 2015 | Dry | Speaker | [30] |
| 2015 | One Fine Day | ||
| 2017 | The Royal Hibiscus Hotel | Richard | [31] |
| 2017 | Victims | Baba Deolu | [32] |
| 2017 | The Royal Hibiscus Hotel | Richard |
Television
edit| Year | Programme | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Goodies | Season 2, Episode 4 – "Lost Tribe of the Orinoco" | |
| 1974 | Till Death Us Do Part | Television repair man | Season 5, Episode 3 – "Strikes and Blackouts" |
| 1975 | Barlow at Large | Motamba | Season 4, Episode 8 – "Protection" |
| 1975 | The Venturers | Mbela | Season 1, Episode 10 – "Dangerous and the Lonely Hearts" |
| 1976 | Angels | Musa Ladipo | 3 episodes |
| 1978 | 1990 | Alan Msawi | Season 2, Episode 2 – "The Market Price" |
| 1975 | The Tomorrow People | General Papa Minn | Season 6, Episode 5 & 6 – "The Thargon Menace: Part 1 & 2" |
| 1979 | The Professionals | Sylvester | Season 3, Episode 5 – "The Madness of Mickey Hamilton" |
| 1982 | Squadron | President Gadin | Season 1, Episode 10 – "Cyclone" |
| 1983 | The Witches and the Grinnygog | Mr Alabaster | Episodes 1–4, 6 |
| 1983 | Rumpole of the Bailey | David Mazenze | Season 3, Episode 2 – "Rumpole and the Golden Thread" |
| 1984 | Play for Today | David Mazenze | Season 14, Episode 16 – "The Amazing Miss Stella Estelle" |
| 1990 | The Third Eye | Inspector Best Idafa | Lead role (1990–1993) |
References
edit- ^ "July: Of Exuberance and Melancholy". THISDAYLIVE. 31 July 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ "Filmography of Olu Jacobs". London, UK: The British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
- ^ a b Njoku, Benjamin (4 March 2019). "Pete Edochie, Olu Jacobs: The living 'godfathers' of Nollywood". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Olu Jacobs: Patriarch of the movie world". Vanguard News. 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "I disobeyed my dad to become an actor - Olu Jacobs". Vanguard News. 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ Ogbu, Rachel. "A Race for Stars Only". Newswatch. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
- ^ "Nominees & Winners of AMAA 2007 @ a glance". The Africa Movie Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 10 December 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
- ^ Coker, Onikepo (4 May 2007). "Africa Celebrates Film Industry at AMAA 2007". Mshale Newspaper. Minneapolis, USA: Mshale Communications. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
- ^ "AMAA Nominees and Winners 2007". Africa Movie Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
- ^ a b Otagbo, Olasumbo (18 October 2014). "How Hubert Ogunde inspired me to become an actor -Olu Jacobs". The Nation. Lagos. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "My Happiest Moment In Acting – Olu Jacobs", Naijarules.com.
- ^ Ugochukwu, Françoise (20 January 2022). "Olu Jacobs: Nollywood's elder statesman has always acted for his country". The Conversation. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Njoku, Benjamin. "I disobeyed my dad to become an actor – Olu Jacobs". The Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
- ^ A BBC-2 series that traces the history of acting. (14 July 1983). The Stage and Television Today (Archive: 1959–1994), , 15
- ^ "Olu Jacobs Fighting Challenges". Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "I Bought My Dad His Best Tobacco". Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "How I met Joke Sylva – Olu Jacobs". Lagos, Nigeria: The Sun Publishing Limited. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
- ^ "Why My Wife Still Bears Her Maiden Name – Actor Olu Jacobs – MJ Celebrity Magazine". MJ Celebrity Magazine. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ Obey, Yinka (17 November 2021). "Pale-looking Olu Jacobs attends Afriff, wins lifetime achievement award". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "'I miss di old Olu Jacobs well-well' - Joke Silva open up on her husband dementia and her life tori". BBC News Pidgin. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ "Olu Jacobs honoured at AMVCA awards as Genevieve, Funke Akindele lose out". Vanguard Newspaper. 10 March 2013. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ^ "From audio-visual rights society, garlands for legendary Olu Jacobs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ "AVRS honours Olu Jacobs & Ajoke Silva with membership certificates". Pulse Nigeria. 4 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Sparrow Productions bounces back with 'Four Big Things' - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. 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
- ^ Imasuen, Lancelot Oduwa, Victims (Drama), Funso Adeolu, Aladesanmi Adeyemi, Mercy Aigbe, MAG Production, retrieved 18 June 2024
External links
edit- Olu Jacobs at IMDb
- Olu Jacobs at the TCM Movie Database
