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 posted on the actor’s official Instagram page early 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,” the statement read.
“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”
His death comes months after Duru dismissed social media reports suggesting he was battling a life-threatening illness.
The rumours emerged in June after footage showing him looking frail circulated online. He later described the video as “fabricated and malicious” in an Instagram post.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru later moved to Nigeria to pursue higher education. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
He began his acting career in 1989 in 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 Amaka Igwe.
Throughout his career, 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 positive 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.
Their family suffered a devastating loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
His death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career spanned decades in Nigeria’s film industry.
