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, expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their prayers, love and support.
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“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’s death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was suffering from a life-threatening illness.
In June, concern spread among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor 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 in the country before relocating to Nigeria for his university studies.
He gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, a film directed by the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko.
He gained wider recognition in 1995 after starring as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
His performance and subsequent roles established him as a familiar face in Nollywood, with a career spanning several decades.
Throughout his time in the industry, Duru received various awards and honours in recognition of his contributions to Nigerian cinema.
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 the couple had four children together.
The family suffered a painful loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
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The actor’s death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose work contributed to the development and popularity of Nollywood over several decades.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
