Oludotun Jacobs is his real name and is popularly known as Olu Jacobs. He is a Nigerian veteran actor and was born 11 July 1942 to parents from Egba Alake in Abeokuta, Ogun State of Nigeria.
He grew up in Kano and attended Holy Trinity School where he was a member of the debating and drama societies. He has made many appearances in several British television series and international films.
His Early Life
Olu Jacobs got his inspiration to go into acting after attending one of Hubert Ogunde’s annual concert party at Colonial Hotel in Kano.
Touched by this development, he secured a visa and traveled to England to study acting. There, he trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.
The renowned actor has also featured prominently in both local and international movies and today he is regarded as one of the major pillars of Nollywood in the Nigerian film industry.
He has featured and played a leading role in the following movies listed below: Jacobs has featured in various British television shows and series in the 1970s and has starred in over 120 Nollywood films in Nigeria. Most of the films to his credit are:
- The Goodies, Till Death Do Us Part
- Barlow at Larg,
- The Venturers, Angels, 1990
- The Tomorrow People,
- The Professionals)
- In 1978, President Mageeba in Michael Codron’s presentation of Tom Stoppard’s play Night and Day.
- In the 1980s, John Irvin’s war film The Dogs of War,
- Roman Polanski’s adventure-comedy Pirates(1986)
- The family-adventure film Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend(1985).
His Early Life
Jacobs is married to Nollywood actress Joke Silva since 1989. They have two children.
“Asked why his wife still bears her maiden name, Jacobs has this to answer: “She is her own individual. When I met her, she was an actress known as Joke Silva. So marrying me now should not in any way deny her and her audience her name. She is Miss Joke Silva who is Mrs. Joke Jacobs. It is as simple as that”.
He said a lot have been said about them including the rumour that they have separated. He concluded she is Silva Joke at work and Mrs. Joke Jacobs at home.
His Awards
Olu Jacobs has received many awards too numerous to mention. A few of these awards are:
In 2007 he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Olu Jacobs was honoured with the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Olu Net Worth
Olu Jacobs net worth is well over $10 million dollars.