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Veteran Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Is Dead At 57
Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru is dead at the age of 57 following a brief illness.
His family announced his death in the early hours of Friday through a statement posted on his official Instagram page, expressing gratitude to fans, friends 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.
Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In June, concerns arose among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media. However, Duru took to Instagram to debunk the reports, 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 in the country before moving to Nigeria for his university education.
He gained admission to 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 with Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He rose to prominence in 1995 after starring as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
Over the years, he earned several awards and honours for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his 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.
The actor married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and their union produced four children. However, the family suffered a tragic loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
Duru’s death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose decades-long career contributed to the growth and development of Nollywood.