Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family announced early on Friday.
The family confirmed the news in a statement posted on Duru’s official Instagram page, expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their support.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness. We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen,” the statement read.
Duru’s death comes months after he publicly dismissed circulating reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, a video showing the actor looking frail sparked concern among fans and colleagues. He responded by sharing his own video on Instagram, describing the earlier footage as “fabricated and malicious.”
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his early education there before moving to Nigeria for university studies. He began his acting career in 1989 with the film Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
He gained wider recognition in 1995 for his role as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. Over the years, Duru received several awards for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry, including the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his influence on young people.
Duru married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003. The couple had four children and lost one of them, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
