Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, has passed away following a brief illness, according to an announcement attributed to his family.
The family announced his death in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026, in a statement shared on the actor’s verified Instagram account, @francis.duru.
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.”
The actor’s death comes about two years after he suffered the loss of his 15year-old 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 Cameroon before moving to Nigeria for university studies.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru made his film debut in Missing Mark in 1989, in a production directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. His performance in Rattlesnake later established him as a recognised face in Nollywood.
Over his decades-long career, he featured in several Nigerian 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. He also received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007 in recognition of his influence on young people.
Duru served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards that year.
Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and children.
