Entertainment
BREAKING: Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru is dead
Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family announced his death in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, thanking fans and well-wishers for their prayers, love and support.
“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 statement read.
Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children.
The actor, who began his career in 1989, rose to prominence for his portrayal of Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the 1995 film produced by late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
His death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, Duru described footage circulating online about his health as false and criticised those spreading the claims in a video posted on Instagram.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in the country before moving to Nigeria for his university studies.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he graduated 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 subsequently established him as a familiar face in the Nigerian film industry.
Throughout his decades-long career, the actor 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.
His death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career spanned several decades in Nigeria’s film industry.
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