Ace Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 after a brief illness.
His family announced his death in the early hours of Friday in a post on his official Instagram page.
“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.
In June, the actor had denied viral reports claiming he was battling a life-threatening illness after footage showing him in a frail condition circulated widely on social media, raising concerns among fans and colleagues.
At the time, Duru shared a video on Instagram describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.
Duru was born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to parents of Nigerian origin from Imo State. He completed his primary and secondary education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria for his university education.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his Nollywood career in 1989 with the film Missing Mark. He gained wider recognition in 1995 after appearing in Rattlesnake, the action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe, where he played the role of Ahanna.
Over the course of his career, he received numerous awards and honours, including being named a United Nations Ambassador of Peace for his positive influence on young people. In 2020, he won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
He married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children. The family suffered a loss in August 2024 when one of their children, Ifeanyi, died.
