Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family confirmed his death in a statement published on the actor's official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026, expressing appreciation to fans, colleagues and well-wishers for their support.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement read.
“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”
The family did not disclose the nature of the illness or provide further details about the circumstances surrounding his death.
The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abubakar Yakubu, also confirmed the development, paying tribute to the late actor.
“Another great thespian is gone. Rest in peace, Francis Duru,” Yakubu wrote in a social media post.
Duru was one of Nollywood's longstanding actors, with a career spanning more than three decades. He became widely recognised for portraying Ahanna in the 1995 film Rattlesnake, produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
Born in Cameroon in 1969 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 and subsequently appeared in several Nigerian films, including Blood Money, Stigma and Mboputa.
His performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.
Beyond his screen appearances, Duru was involved in professional activities within the Nigerian film industry and served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010.
His death comes months after he publicly dismissed reports suggesting that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June 2026, the actor challenged a circulating video that appeared to show him in poor health, describing the claims surrounding it as false.
The family has not indicated whether the illness mentioned in Friday's announcement was connected to those earlier reports.
Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children. He had previously experienced the loss of his son, Ifeanyi, in 2024.
As of the family's announcement, funeral arrangements had not been made public.
His death brings to an end a career that spanned several generations of Nigerian filmmaking, including the industry's early expansion and its development into one of Africa's largest film sectors.
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