Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, has died after a brief illness, his family confirms.
His family announced his demise on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, revealing that he died following a brief illness.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the post reads.
“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”
In June, the actor refuted widespread reports that claimed he was fighting a life-threatening illness.
The rumors picked up momentum after footage of him looking frail began circulating widely on social media, sparking worry among fans and colleagues.
In response, Duru posted an Instagram video in which he called the footage “fabricated and malicious.”
Duru was born on 27 July 1969, in Cameroon, to parents of Nigerian descent from Imo State.
He finished his primary and secondary schooling in Cameroon before moving to Nigeria to earn a university degree.
He was admitted to the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he studied theatre arts and obtained a B.A. degree in 1996.
Duru began his career in the Nigerian film industry in 1989 with a movie titled ‘Missing Mark,’ directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
At the time, his part in the film did little to boost his career, since he was still regarded as an up-and-coming actor.
He earned wider recognition in the industry in 1995 after appearing in ‘Rattlesnake,’ an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe. In the film, Duru took on a notable role as the character Ahanna.
Throughout his career, Duru earned numerous awards and honors for his work. He was named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of the positive influence he had 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 together the couple had four children. They lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
