Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Dies After Brief Illness

The actor, known for his role in Rattlesnake, began his film career in 1989 and won several industry honours.

Nigerian actor Francis Duru has died following a brief illness, his family has announced.

The family announced his death in a post on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing appreciation for the prayers, love and understanding of those mourning him.

“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.”

In June, Duru had denied viral reports claiming he was battling a life-threatening illness. The reports followed the circulation of footage showing him in a frail condition on social media, raising concerns among fans and colleagues. The actor subsequently described the footage in an Instagram video as “fabricated and malicious”.

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 entered the Nigerian film industry in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He gained wider recognition in 1995 for his role as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe.

Throughout his career, Duru received several awards and honours. He was named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his positive 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.

The actor married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children together. The family lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.

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