Veteran Nigerian 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 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 suggesting that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In June, a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media, prompting concerns among fans and colleagues.
Duru subsequently released 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 moving to Nigeria for his university studies.
He attended 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, appearing in Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
He rose to wider prominence in 1995 after playing Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
Over the years, the actor earned several awards and honours for his contributions to Nollywood.
He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his influence on young people.
In 2020, Duru received 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 their union produced four children.
However, the family suffered a painful loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
His death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career spanned several decades in Nigeria’s film industry.
