Francis Duru, one of Nollywood’s veteran actors, has died at the age of 57 after a brief illness, adding to the growing list of movie stars the Nigerian film industry has lost this year.
His family announced his passing in a statement posted on his official Instagram page on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Duru’s death comes barely five weeks after the passing of legendary actor Olu Jacobs, further deepening the mourning within Nollywood.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru later returned to Nigeria where he studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996.
He began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark but became a household name after starring as Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s 1995 blockbuster Rattlesnake. The role remains one of the most memorable in Nollywood history and was later portrayed by Stan Nze in the 2020 remake, Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story.
Over a career that lasted more than three decades, Duru featured in several successful productions, including Blood Money, Home in Exile, Stigma, The Good Husband and Mboputa.
His outstanding performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo-language category) at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.
Beyond acting, Duru was actively involved in humanitarian and youth development programmes. He worked with organisations such as UNICEF, USAID and LEAP Africa. In recognition of his contributions to society, he was named a United Nations Ambassador of Peace in 2007. He also served as the interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010.
His death follows that of veteran actor Olu Jacobs, who died on September 16 at the age of 84 after a remarkable career in theatre, television and film. Nollywood also lost actor Alex Ekubo earlier this year.
The passing of Francis Duru marks another painful moment for Nigeria’s film industry, which has continued to lose some of its most respected talents. His memorable performances, especially during Nollywood’s formative years, helped shape the industry and inspired a new generation of actors.
Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children. Funeral arrangements had not been announced as of the time of filing this report.