Olu Jacobs is a famous Nollywood actor, producer, entrepreneur and a television personality. He was born on 11th July 1942 in Abeokuta, Ogun State in the south western part of Nigeria. He is currently 80 years old. He is the husband to Nollywood famous actress Joke Silva. He has been regarded as the father of Nollywood. He has been in the film industry for more than 40 years.
Olu Jacobs and his wife, Joke Silva gave birth to three children, two sons, and a daughter. The sons are Olusoji and Olugbenga Jacobs while the daughter is Dayo Jacobs.
Olu Jacobs is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal Arts Academy. A movie school aimed for training movie practitioners in acting, directing, producing, script writing, photography, costumier, makeup, editing, modeling, set designed and various aspect of movie making. His academy has produced one of the best talents in the film of movie making.
Olu Jacobs was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State in the south western part of Nigeria but spent his early childhood in Kano State in the northern part of Nigeria. He attended Holy Trinity School in Kano State and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. After which he completed his secondary school education in Lagos State, Nigeria and obtained his West African Senior School Certificate.
Olu Jacobs started acting while he was still in secondary school. He was an active member of a drama club in his secondary school days. After completing his secondary school education, Olu Jacobs proceeded to England in the United Kingdom to study acting at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, United Kingdom.
After which he featured in various British television shows and dramatic series such as The Goodies, Till Death, Angels, and many more. He was inspired to take acting as a career when he attended Hubert Ogunde’s annual concert party held in Kano State, Nigeria in 1970.
In 1971, Olu Jacobs joined the entertainment industry and acted in his first movies “Murderous Angels” written by Conor Cruise O’Brien in London, United Kingdom. In 1978, Olu Jacobs played the role of President Mageeba in Michael Codron’s presentation of Tom Stoppard’s play “Night and Day”.
In 2007, Olu Jacobs won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards. He is currently married to Nollywood famous actress Joke Sylva and the couples are blessed with grown up children and beautiful grand children.
Olu Jacobs was already a celebrity before Nollywood was given birth to. He has been acting since the 70s and has been in the field of acting for almost 50 years. He was one of the pioneers of the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) and contributed immensely to the growth of Nollywood in Nigeria and around the world.
Olu Jacobs has been regarded as one of the most gifted, most skillful, most creative and most talented actors in Nigeria. He knows how to interpret his roles very well and can fit in any character given to him by movie directors and producers in Nigeria.
Olu Jacobs has acted in more than 250 Nollywood movies which include Ashanti, The Dogs of War, Pirates, Secret of the Lost Legend, The Dogs Meeting, Beauty and the Beast, Adesuwa, Dry, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, A Kind of Marriage, Till Death Do Us Part, Venturers, The Third Eye, Play for Today, and many more.
In March 2007, Olu Jacobs won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards held in Bayelsa State in the south southern part of Nigeria. He is currently honored by the Federal Government of Nigeria as a Member of the Order of Federal Republic (MFR) which happens to be the highest award given to celebrity in Nigeria who has contributed immensely to the growth of the Nigerian economy through entertainment. Olu Jacobs has been regarded as one of the richest and most influential actor in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $1 million.
Olu Jacobs in the cause of his career as an actor has won several awards which include Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Most Prominent Actor in Nigeria at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Best of Nollywood Awards and Best Actor in Nigeria at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
He has also won the 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. He has been regarded as one of the most sought after actors in Nigeria. He is indeed an interesting character to watch out for in the Nigeria movie industry popularly known as Nollywood.
