Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family confirmed his passing in a statement shared on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026, expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their support during the difficult period.
“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.
The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, also confirmed the actor’s death, paying tribute to the veteran performer.
Francis Duru was one of Nollywood’s familiar faces, with an acting career spanning more than three decades. He gained widespread recognition for playing Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the 1995 action film produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. The performance helped establish him as a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Francis Duru later moved to Nigeria to study Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996. He began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
Throughout his career, Duru featured in numerous Nigerian films, including Blood Money, Home in Exile, Stigma, Mboputa, The Good Husband, Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons, Blood Vessel and Ugly Bird. Beyond acting, he also worked as a director and producer.
His contributions to the industry extended beyond the screen. He served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007 in recognition of his positive influence on young people. In 2020, he won Best Actor in a Leading Role in an Igbo-language film at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
In June 2026, Duru addressed online speculation about his health after footage portraying him as seriously ill circulated on social media. He dismissed the reports as false and described the footage as fabricated and malicious.
His death comes two years after the loss of his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024, a tragedy the actor publicly mourned.
Francis Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, whom he married in 2003, and their three surviving children.
His passing marks the loss of a veteran performer whose work spanned several generations of Nigerian cinema. His role in Rattlesnake and his decades-long contribution to Nollywood remain significant parts of his legacy.