Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Passes Away

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has passed away at the age of 57.

His family shared the sad news in a statement on his Instagram page on Friday. They did not say when he died or what caused his death.

The family also did not share details about the actor’s burial plans. They thanked fans for their prayers, love, and support during this time.

“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 family stated.

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) confirmed Duru’s death in an Instagram post early Friday. The guild described him as a great actor who made a mark in the industry.

“Another great thespian gone. Rest in peace, Francis Duru,” AGN wrote.

Seun Oloketuyi, the founder of Best of Nollywood (BON), also confirmed the news.

Duru died months after he pushed back against reports claiming he was critically ill. He said those claims were meant to mislead the public.

In June, he condemned the videos spreading rumors about his health. He called them a wicked narrative and accused the people behind them of making up stories about him.

Duru insisted that he was never as ill as portrayed in the videos. He criticized those circulating the content for creating a false image of his health.

He also spoke out against the misuse of artificial intelligence to alter images and videos of public figures. He accused some individuals of using technology to create lies, misrepresent lives, and ruin reputations.

Duru warned that people spreading false content would face consequences, calling them “merchants of wickedness.” He urged the public not to believe the rumors, insisting that he was healthy and active at that time.

Duru was born in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State. He completed both his primary and secondary education there before moving to Nigeria to study Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, where he earned a bachelor’s degree.

He began his acting career in 1989 with “Missing Mark,” directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. Though he started early, the film did not bring him the fame he wanted, and he remained an up-and-coming actor for a while.

His big break came in 1995 when he played Ahanna in “Rattlesnake,” an action comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe. This role gave him more visibility in the industry.

Since then, he has appeared in several films like “Ugly Bird,” “Abigail’s Memoir,” “Blood Vessel,” “The Locals,” “The Good Husband,” “Mboputa,” “Why Not?,” “Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons,” “Who Killed Chief?,” “Lipstick,” “Mortuary Gate,” “Stigma,” “Home in Exile,” and “Nnenda.”

Duru married Adokiye in 2003 after they met as students at the University of Port Harcourt. They had four children. Sadly, the family faced a heartbreaking loss in August 2024 when their 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, died.

In 2007, he received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award for positively influencing the youth.

In 2010, Duru became the interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards that same year.