Ace Nigerian actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family disclosed his death in a post on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing appreciation for the prayers, love and understanding of those mourning the actor.
“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 denied viral reports claiming he was battling a life-threatening illness.
The rumours gained traction after footage showing him in a frail condition circulated widely on social media, raising concerns among his fans and colleagues.
In response, Duru shared a video on Instagram describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.
Duru was born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroun, to parents of Nigerian origin from Imo State. He completed his primary and secondary education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria to pursue a university degree.
He gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his journey in the Nigerian film industry in 1989 with a movie titled Missing Mark.
His appearance in the film did little to advance his career at the time, as he was still regarded as an up-and-coming actor.
He gained greater recognition in the industry in 1995 after appearing in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe. Duru played a notable role in the film as Ahanna.
Over the course of his career, Duru received numerous awards and honours in recognition of his work.
He was named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his positive influence 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 the couple had four children together.
However, the family suffered a tragic loss in August 2024 when Ifeanyi, one of their children, died.
