Francis Duru, the veteran Nigerian actor, has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family announced his death on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing grief over his passing and appreciation for the support of fans and well-wishers.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the post reads.
“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”
Duru denied illness rumours in June
The actor’s death comes months after he denied reports claiming he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In June, footage showing him in a frail condition circulated widely on social media, raising concerns among fans and colleagues.
Duru later shared an Instagram video describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.
His career in Nollywood
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education there before moving to Nigeria for university.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He gained wider recognition in 1995 after appearing in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe.
He played Ahanna in the film, which helped establish his place in Nollywood.
Over the years, Duru received several awards and honours for his work. He was 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.
Family life
Duru married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children together.
The family suffered a major loss in August 2024 when their 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, died.
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