Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs has died at the age of 84, according to the BBC. The broadcaster reported his death on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Jacobs was widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in Nigerian film, a status reflected in the reactions that followed the news. Former presidential aide Reno Omokri described him as a national icon, according to Daily Post Nigeria.
Tributes also came from within the acting profession. Actress Mercy Johnson mourned him in a message reported by The Nation Newspaper, writing that his memory would speak for him.
Coverage of his later years has resurfaced alongside the news of his death. Punch Newspapers shared a throwback video in which Jacobs's wife, actress Joke Silva, said he had suffered from a degenerative brain disease.
Yen News also reported that an old prophecy attributed to Karma President circulated again online after the actor's death.
Jacobs's career made him a familiar face to generations of Nigerian audiences, and the volume of public reaction indicates the place he held in the country's entertainment landscape. Further statements from his family, colleagues and industry bodies are expected in the coming days.