Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness.
His family announced his death in a statement posted on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, thanking fans and well-wishers for their prayers and 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 dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In June, concern spread among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media. He subsequently took to Instagram to refute the reports, 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 the country before moving to Nigeria for his university education.
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, appearing in Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
He rose to wider prominence in 1995 after starring as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
Over the course of his career, Duru received several awards and honours in recognition of his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace for his 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 the couple had four children. The family suffered a devastating loss in August 2024 when their child, Ifeanyi, died.
