Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died following a brief illness, according to a statement released by his family.
The family announced his death on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, while expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their 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.
His death comes months after he denied reports that he was suffering from a life-threatening illness.
In June, concerns arose among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media.
Reacting to the reports at the time, Duru shared a video on Instagram in which he described 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 there before moving to Nigeria for his university education.
He attended the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989, appearing in Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
He rose to wider prominence in 1995 after playing Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
Over the years, he received several awards and honours for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. He was also appointed a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his influence on young people.
In 2020, Duru won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
He married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and the couple had four children. However, the family suffered a loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
