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 published on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing gratitude to fans, friends 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 is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children.
The actor, who began his career in 1989, rose to prominence for his portrayal of Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the 1995 film produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. His performance helped establish him as one of the recognisable faces of Nigerian cinema.
His death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, Duru took to Instagram to debunk claims about his health, describing footage circulating online as false and criticising those spreading the reports.
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 his university education.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru made his film debut in Missing Mark in 1989, under the direction of the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko. He subsequently featured in several Nigerian productions, including Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020).
His performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards. In 2007, he also received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in recognition of his influence on young people.
Beyond acting, Duru served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010. In the same year, he was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
His death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career spanned more than three decades in Nigeria’s film industry.
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