Nollywood Veteran Francis Duru Dies at 57

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 his official Instagram page early Friday, expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support.

Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media, prompting concern among fans and colleagues. The actor subsequently described the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.

Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996.

He began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark but gained wider recognition in 1995 for his role as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.

Throughout his career, Duru earned several honours for his contributions to Nollywood. In 2020, he won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his influence on young people.

Duru married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children. The family lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.