This post is to talk a little about and wish one of our celebrated Nollywood actors- Olu Jacobs; happy birthday as he clocks 72 today. Olu Jacobs is one of Nigeria's real actors- seriously this man is so good at what he does. Why not... he was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London- I'm yet to see another Nigerian actor able to convincingly cry without sobbing like he so brilliantly does.
My early memories of seeing him on the screen is playing the headmaster in The Second Chance (the Nigerian version of Mind Your Language) and a police detective who was always assisted in solving his cases by his very inquisitive and over enthusiastic daughter Uze (played by Yomi Adeyemi Wilson)- in The Third Eye. How I miss that show, since that one and another one back in the 80's The Fiery Force ( a lot darker than The Third Eye and starred Gbenga Richards and the late Funsho Alabi) and yet another whose title I don't remember- we've not had a good T.V crime series since then.
That's not even his first 'policeman' role- he played a police commissioner in the 1979 movie Ashanti and a customs officer in 1980's The Dogs of War. I saw Ashanti years ago but yet to see the latter and I hope to just to see him since I'm not really fond of war films. I wonder how many Nigerians remember his memorable villainous role in Daybreak- Omotola Jalade's movie after Mortal Inheritance where he played a millionaire, furious his young mistress (Jalade) was two-timing him again, ordered the murder of her lover only to discover after the murder was committed that the unfortunate rival was his only son (played by Emeka Ike). Now that's a movie- I was lucky enough to find it in VCD years ago and still love it.
Olu Jacobs is an actor the present generation of Nollywood actors should emulate. This gentleman is a born actor and they could do with precious acting tips from him, for one thing he's not guilty of overacting and he's so natural and polished, he positively stands out and owns the whole show.
Ditto his lovely wife, Joke Silva who studied drama at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and they make a very good acting team as they've featured together in several projects.
So here's wishing Olu Jacobs a very happy birthday, long life and prosperity and May his light continue to shine!
