Veteran actor Francis Duru dies at 57

Etim Ekpimah

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness.

His family announced his death on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, thanking fans and well-wishers for their support.

A statement issued by his family on Friday read, “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.”

His death comes months after he publicly dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, concern grew among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media. Responding at the time, Duru described the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.

Born on 27 July 1969 in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education there before relocating to Nigeria for university studies. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt in 1996.

Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He rose to prominence in 1995 after portraying Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the acclaimed action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe.

Throughout his career, he received several awards and honours for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. He was also recognised as a United Nations Ambassador of Peace for 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.

Duru married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children. The family suffered a tragic loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.