Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru dies at 57 after brief illness

Veteran Nigerian actor Francis Duru, widely recognised for his contributions to the Nollywood film industry, has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness.

His family confirmed his passing in a statement shared on his official Instagram page on Friday, expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their support.

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

“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

The actor’s death comes months after he publicly dismissed reports suggesting he was battling a life-threatening illness.

In June, Duru took to Instagram to reject the claims, describing a video circulating on social media about his health as false.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru began his acting career in 1989 with his debut film Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.

He rose to prominence in 1995 after portraying Ahanna in the popular Nollywood film Rattlesnake, produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.

Throughout his career, Duru appeared in several notable films, 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.

Beyond acting, Duru served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards that same year.

He was also honoured with the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007 for his positive influence on young people.

Duru held a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, where he graduated in 1996.

He is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children, leaving behind a career spanning more than three decades in Nigeria’s film industry.