Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The actor’s family announced his death on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, while thanking fans and well-wishers for their prayers, love and support during the difficult period.
The family did not disclose the nature of the illness that led to his death.
Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In June, concerns about his health spread among fans and colleagues after a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media.
The actor subsequently addressed the reports in a video shared 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 relocating to Nigeria for his university studies.
He gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989, featuring in ‘Missing Mark’, a film directed by the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko. His career gained wider recognition in 1995 when he appeared in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe.
Among his notable achievements was winning the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards in 2020 for his performance in Mboputa. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his influence on young people.
Beyond his professional achievements, Duru maintained a family life with his wife, Adokiye, whom he married in 2003. The couple had four children together, although the family suffered a painful loss in August 2024 when their son, Ifeanyi, died.
