Nollywood has lost one of its most recognisable faces. Veteran actor Francis Duru is dead. He was 57.
The actor died on Friday following what his family described as a brief illness.
The family broke the news in the early hours of Friday on his official Instagram page, thanking fans and well-wishers for their 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.
His death comes months after he publicly rejected claims that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In June, a video of a visibly frail Duru went viral, triggering worry among fans and colleagues. The actor hit back in an Instagram video, branding the footage “fabricated and malicious”.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru finished his primary and secondary education there before moving to Nigeria for university.
He enrolled at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
His screen career began in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
But it was in 1995 that Duru broke through, starring as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe.
Over the years, he collected several awards and honours for his contribution to Nigerian cinema. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace for his influence on young people.
In 2020, he won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
Duru married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003. They had four children. The couple lost one of them, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
