Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
In a statement published on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, the family expressed appreciation to fans and well-wishers for their prayers, love and support.
“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.
Francis Duru dies
The death of Francis Duru comes months after the actor dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In June, concern spread among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media.
Duru subsequently shared a video on Instagram, describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious” and dismissing reports surrounding his health.
Naija Metro News gathered that the sad development came less than three months after the demise of Taiwo Hassan OgogoTaiwo Hassan Ogogo.
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 university studies.
He began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
However, he gained wider recognition in 1995 after featuring in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. He played the character Ahanna in the film.
Throughout his career, Duru received several awards and honours for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. 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 they had four children together. The family lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
Kehinde Ayanboade
Kehinde Ayanboade is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Naija Metro News, with over eight years of experience covering Nigerian politics, crime, legislative proceedings and metropolitan affairs.
