Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family confirmed his death in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement read.
The family also expressed appreciation for the support and prayers received, asking for understanding as they mourn his death.
Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports circulating on social media that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, the actor addressed the claims after a video showing him looking frail went viral, describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.
Career and Rise to Fame
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 university.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru entered the Nigerian film industry in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko. However, he gained wider recognition in 1995 after featuring in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe.
In the film, he played Ahanna, a role that helped establish his presence in the Nigerian movie industry.
Over the years, Duru received several awards and honours for his contributions to acting. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his 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.
Duru married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children together. The family suffered a loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
The actor’s death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career spanned decades in the Nigerian film industry.
Further details about his burial arrangements had not been provided in the family’s announcement.
