𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗢𝗟𝗨 𝗝𝗔𝗖𝗢𝗕𝗦; 𝗢𝗚𝗨𝗡 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬

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 81 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 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 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.

He was inspired to take a chance with acting when he attended one of Chief Hubert Ogunde's annual concert parties at Colonial Hotel in Kano. Afterwards, he secured a visa and travelled to England to study acting.

In England, Jacobs trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. 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).

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.

Jacobs has subsequently starred in over 120 Nollywood films. He is considered one of the top Nigerian Nollywood actors.

Olu Jacobs was honoured with the Industry Merit Award for outstanding achievements in acting at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. 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.

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.

He is dealing with issues and it has been going on for a couple of years. It is known as dementia with Lewy Body. It is a degenerative disease that affects the brain and it is almost like a Parkinson’s type of disease, it affects the brain so you don’t see the shaking. It affects the person. Always remember Olu Jacob in prayers.