BREAKING: Nollywood Loses Veteran Actor Francis Duru at 57

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

The family announced his death in a statement shared on the actor’s official Instagram page on Friday, October 23, expressing appreciation to those who supported him and his family.

The statement read, “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 family did not disclose the nature of the illness or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, also announced Duru’s death in a social media post, paying tribute to the late actor.

Duru was one of the familiar faces in Nigerian cinema, with an acting career that began in 1989. He gained wider recognition for his role as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the 1995 film produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.

Born on July 27, 1969, Duru studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, graduating in 1996.

Over the years, he appeared in several Nigerian productions, including Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020).

His performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role award in the Igbo-language category at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.

Beyond acting, Duru contributed to the organisation of the Nigerian film industry. He served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and received a United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007.

His death comes months after he addressed speculation about his health following the circulation of a video that prompted concerns among fans and colleagues.

In June 2026, Duru dismissed claims that he was suffering from a life-threatening illness, describing the circulating footage as misleading. He did not publicly identify the illness that preceded his death.

The actor also experienced a personal tragedy in August 2024 when his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, died.

As of Friday, details of Duru’s funeral arrangements had not been announced in the sources examined.