Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family disclosed his death in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing appreciation to supporters for their prayers and understanding.
“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.”
Duru’s death comes months after he publicly dismissed reports claiming he was battling a life-threatening illness. The rumours had spread after a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media, triggering concern among fans and colleagues.
Responding to the reports in June, the actor described 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 the country before relocating to Nigeria for university studies.
He gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, a film 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, in which he played Ahanna.
Over the years, he established himself as a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, earning recognition for his performances and contributions to the entertainment sector.
Among his honours was the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award, conferred in recognition of 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.
Beyond his acting career, Duru was married to Adokiye, whom he wed in 2003, and they had four children together. The family suffered a devastating loss in August 2024 when their son, Ifeanyi, died.
His death has added to the losses mourned by the Nigerian entertainment industry, with the actor remembered for his decades-long contribution to Nollywood.
