The family of veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has announced his passing in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026.
According to a statement shared via his official verified Instagram page, Francis Duru, the actor, died after a brief illness.
The statement read: “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”
Francis Duru is 57 years old. This comes about two years after the actor lost his youngest son, Ifeanyi, in 2024.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in the country before relocating to Nigeria for university studies.
He gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.
However, he gained wider recognition in 1995 after featuring in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. He played Ahanna in the film.
Throughout his career, Duru received several awards and honours for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his 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 Adokiye in 2003, and they had four children together. The family lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
