Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family announced his death in a statement published on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing appreciation for the support and prayers received.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement read.
“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”
His death comes months after the actor dismissed reports circulating on social media that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
The rumours gained attention in June after a video showing him appearing frail went viral, raising concerns among fans and colleagues. Duru subsequently addressed the claims in an Instagram video, describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria to pursue higher education.
He gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his journey in the Nigerian film industry in 1989 with Missing Mark, a movie directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. However, his breakthrough came in 1995 when he featured in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe.
He played the character Ahanna in the film, a role that helped establish his reputation in Nollywood.
Throughout his career, Duru received several awards and honours in recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace for his positive influence on young people.
In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
Duru married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children together. The family suffered a loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
His death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career spanned decades in the Nigerian film industry.
