Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family announced his death in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026.
“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 children. His death comes about two years after he lost his youngest son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in Cameroon before moving to Nigeria for university studies.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He gained wider recognition in 1995 after featuring in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe, where he played the role of Ahanna.
Over his decades-long career, he featured in several Nigerian films, including Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020).
In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in 2007 in recognition of his influence on young people.
Duru 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 dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness, describing footage circulating online in June as false. In a video posted on Instagram, the actor rejected claims about his health and criticised those circulating the footage.
