Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family confirmed his death in a statement posted on the actor’s verified Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026, expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support.
Duru, who began his acting career in 1989, gained widespread recognition for his role as Ahanna in the 1995 action film Rattlesnake, produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, he later moved to Nigeria to study Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996.
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His film credits include Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020). He won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa and received a supporting actor nomination at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2010.
Beyond acting, Duru served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and received a United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007.
He is survived by his wife, Adokiye, whom he married in 2003, and their three surviving children. The family lost their youngest son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
Duru’s death marks the end of a career spanning more than three decades in Nollywood, where he earned recognition for his screen performances and contributions to the industry.
