Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at 57 after a brief illness, his family announced early Friday.
In a statement on his official Instagram page, the family thanked fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support. “We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” it read. He is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children.
Duru began acting in 1989 with a debut in Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He became a household name through his role as Ahanna in the 1995 film Rattlesnake, produced by the late Amaka Igwe. His other credits include Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020), which earned him Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.
His passing comes months after he dismissed June reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In an Instagram video, he called the circulating footage false and criticised those spreading it.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru schooled there before relocating to Nigeria. He graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt in 1996.
Beyond acting, he received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007 for his influence on young people. In 2010, he served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria and earned a Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
