Veteran Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Dies at 57

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.

The family confirmed his death in a statement published on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their support.

The statement read, “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.”

Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.

In June, concerns emerged among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media. He subsequently shared a video on Instagram, 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 before relocating to Nigeria for his 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 filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko.

He rose to prominence in 1995 after starring as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.

Over the years, Duru earned several awards and honours for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of 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.

The actor married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and the couple had four children together. However, the family suffered a painful loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.

Duru’s death marks another loss for Nollywood, where he was known for his memorable performances and contributions to the growth of the Nigerian film industry.