The death of veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs at the age of 84 has brought renewed attention to his remarkable career and the health challenges he faced in his later years. Olu Jacobs Suffered From Dementia With Lewy Bodies — Joke Silva
Following his death, an interview from 2021 in which his wife, actress Joke Silva, publicly discussed his health condition has resurfaced.
Veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs. Photo credit: Web
Joke Silva Revealed Olu Jacobs’ Health Condition in 2021
In a November 2021 interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Joke Silva revealed that Olu Jacobs had been living with dementia with Lewy bodies, commonly referred to as DLB.
Silva explained that the condition had affected the actor for several years and was responsible for some of the changes that had become noticeable to his family and the public.
She also explained that the condition affected the brain and could present in ways that were different from the symptoms people might commonly associate with Parkinson’s disease.
Joke Silva Spoke About Accepting Their New Reality
In January 2023, Silva discussed her experience further during an appearance on Mercy Johnson’s YouTube cooking programme, Mercy’s Menu.
Born on July 11, 1942, Jacobs built a career that lasted for decades and saw him become one of the most respected figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
He appeared in numerous Nigerian and international productions and became particularly well known to generations of Nigerian television and film audiences.
Jacobs’ contribution to acting earned him several major honours during his career.
He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007. The Africa Movie Academy Awards is one of the major film award institutions associated with African cinema.
Beyond his individual awards, Jacobs was part of a generation of Nigerian actors who helped shape the country’s modern film and television industry.
His career crossed different eras of Nigerian entertainment, from stage productions and television to the growth of the country’s contemporary film industry.
While discussing his condition, she repeatedly emphasised the importance of love, acceptance and adapting to changing circumstances.
Her earlier interviews have now resurfaced following Jacobs’ death, offering the public a deeper understanding of the private health challenges behind his later years away from the screen.
Dementia with Lewy bodies is a progressive neurological disorder. It is associated with abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain and can affect cognition, movement, sleep and behaviour.
Symptoms and their severity can vary between individuals. Medical information about the condition should be obtained from qualified healthcare professionals and reputable medical institutions.
His death has prompted tributes from colleagues, public figures and Nigerians who remember his contribution to the country’s entertainment industry.
As tributes continue, attention has also returned to the extraordinary career of an actor whose work spanned several decades and whose influence extended beyond individual film roles.
Olu Jacobs was 84 years old when he died on September 16, 2026.
What awards did Olu Jacobs receive?
Among his honours, Jacobs won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2007 and received other industry and lifetime achievement awards during his career.
Dementia with Lewy bodies is a progressive form of dementia associated with changes in cognition, movement, behaviour and other neurological functions.
