Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness.
His family announced his death on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing gratitude to 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.
His death comes months after the actor dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, concern arose among fans and colleagues after a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media. Duru described the footage as “fabricated and malicious” in a response posted on Instagram.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru later moved to Nigeria for his university education. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
He began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko, before gaining wider recognition in 1995 for his role as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
Throughout his career, Duru received several awards and honours for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. In 2020, he won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the 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, and they had four children together. The family lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.