Reports have emerged alleging that veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness.
According to reports, the actor’s family announced his alleged death on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, thanking fans and well-wishers for their prayers, love and support.
The statement reportedly 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 report comes months after Duru dismissed claims that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In June, concerns arose among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media. Duru later shared a video on Instagram, describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious.”
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 his university education.
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 starring in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe, in which he played Ahanna.
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.
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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.
