Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has confirmed. The family announced his passing in a statement shared on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, while thanking fans and sympathisers for their prayers, love and support during the difficult period. “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 said. Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children. The actor, who began his career in 1989, rose to prominence for his portrayal of Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the 1995 film produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. The role helped establish him as one of the recognisable faces in the Nigerian film industry.
His death comes months after he publicly denied reports that he was suffering from a life-threatening illness. In June, he described a video circulating online about his health as false and used a response posted on Instagram to refute the claims and criticise those responsible for spreading the footage.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria to pursue higher education. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru made his film debut in Missing Mark in 1989, under the direction of the late Ndubuisi Oko. His subsequent performance in Rattlesnake earned him wider recognition and helped cement his place in Nollywood. Throughout his decades-long career, he appeared in numerous Nigerian films, including Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020).
In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa. He was also honoured with the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007 for his influence on young people. Beyond acting, Duru played a leadership role in the industry, serving as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010. That same year, he received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
His passing marks the loss of a veteran performer whose contributions to Nigerian cinema spanned several decades.
