Nollywood Mourns Francis Duru as Veteran Actor 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 announced his death in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday.

“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement read.

The family expressed appreciation to fans and well-wishers for their prayers, love and support, adding, “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 about his health spread after a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media. The actor subsequently described the footage as fabricated and malicious in a video shared on Instagram.

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 university studies.

He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.

Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.

He rose to prominence in 1995 after featuring in Rattlesnake, an action comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. His portrayal of Ahanna in the film helped establish him as a recognised face in the Nigerian movie industry.

Throughout his career, the actor received several awards and honours in recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace for his positive influence on young people.

In 2020, Duru won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.

Beyond his acting career, Duru was married to Adokiye, whom he wed in 2003. The couple had four children, but suffered a family tragedy in August 2024 when their 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, died.

His death marks the loss of an actor whose performances helped shape a generation of Nigerian cinema.