Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Dies at 57 After Brief Illness

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

The family disclosed his death in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday. They thanked fans and well-wishers for their prayers, love and support during the difficult period.

“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 is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children. His death marks the loss of an actor whose career spanned several decades in Nigeria’s film industry.

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

Duru began his acting career in 1989, making his film debut in Missing Mark, directed by the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko. He became widely recognised for playing Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the 1995 film produced by the late Amaka Igwe.

Throughout his career, he appeared in numerous Nigerian productions, including Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020). His performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.

Beyond acting, Duru received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007 for his influence on young people. He also served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards that year.

His death comes months after he publicly dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, Duru responded to footage circulating online about his health, describing the claims as false and criticising those spreading them. His family has now confirmed that he died following a brief illness but did not disclose further details.