The family of veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has announced his death. He died at age 57.In a post shared on the late actor’s Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, they noted,“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”

Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and children.

The actor began his career in 1989 and rose to prominence after playing Ahanna in Rattlesnake, a 1995 film produced by late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. The role helped establish him as one of the familiar faces in Nollywood.

His death follows reports in June that he was battling a serious illness, which he publicly denied. In a video shared on Instagram at the time, Duru described footage circulating online as false and criticised those spreading the claims about his health.

Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru spent his early years completing his primary and secondary education in the country before moving to Nigeria for further studies.

He attended the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.

Duru made his film debut in Missing Mark in 1989, under the direction of the late Ndubuisi Oko. He went on to feature in several Nigerian productions, including Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020).

His performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards. He was also honoured with the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007 for his influence on young people.

Beyond acting, Duru served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010. In the same year, he received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.

Before his death, Francis Duru remained active in Nollywood and featured in productions associated with producer Uchenna Mbunabo. One of his notable recent films was Pray for Divine, released in June 2026, in which he starred alongside Ebube Nwagbo and Pearl Shim. The film was produced by Uchenna Mbunabo.

He also appeared in A Quiet Pain, an emotional drama that premiered on YouTube on 10 August 2026. The movie featured a cast that included Monalisa Chinda, Francis Duru, and Pearl Shim, and was executive-produced by Uchenna Mbunabo.

Another of his recent projects was Uncle of the Year, a 2026 family drama linked to Uchenna Mbunabo. The film showcased Francis Duru's enduring screen presence and was among the productions released in the months leading up to his death.