Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the family announced his passing in a statement shared on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026. 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”.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996. He began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark but rose to national prominence for his role as Ahanna in the 1995 classic Rattlesnake, produced by the late Amaka Igwe. Over his decades-long career, he featured in films including Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013), and Mboputa (2020). In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa, and in 2007 received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award.
His death comes barely two years after he lost his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024. He is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and children.
Tributes have poured in from across the industry. Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) President Abubakar Yakubu described him as “an iconic actor, a respected veteran, and a distinguished practitioner,” while Kanayo O. Kanayo called him “a consummate actor and one of Nigeria’s most versatile and prolific performers”.
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