Olu Jacobs is Alive, Confirms Family Amid Social Media Death Rumors
Lagos, Nigeria — Nollywood veteran Olu Jacobs is alive, his family confirmed on Sunday, dispelling rampant social media death rumors and speculations.
The actor’s first son, Soji Jacobs, told Channels Television that his octogenarian father is not dead as widely reported online. To further dismiss the rumors, Soji shared a video with a correspondent showing the iconic actor seated calmly while having his greyed beard shaved. During the activity, the older and frail-looking Jacobs engaged in a brief conversation with his barber and those around him.
The death of Jacobs, 81, has been rumored multiple times since November 2021, when his actress wife, Joke Silva, publicly discussed his health struggles. The family has repeatedly debunked these rumors by posting videos and photos of the patriarch to discredit the misinformation.
In 2021, Silva, a respected actress and longtime wife of Jacobs, revealed that her husband has been battling Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) for several years, which explains his absence from the movie screens.
“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,” Silva said in a Channels Television interview.
“It’s been hard on him because he doesn’t understand what is going on and also on family members as well. We have gone through it over the past couple of years and we thank God,” she added.
“We have gone through some times and situations recently that I wish I had the old you here so I don’t battle these times on my own but we are grateful for the moment of clarity. I miss the times we worked together,” she reflected.
The veteran actor, who received a lifetime achievement award at the Africa International Film Festival Awards in Lagos in 2021, later shared a pale-looking picture of himself on Instagram, attracting sympathy, best wishes, and prayers from friends and fans.
Jacobs has also been seen at selected social functions, accompanied by his loving wife, while fans continue to hope for his recovery.
