Nigerian actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57, his family has announced on Instagram.

Nollywood star Francis Duru dies at 57 after brief illness  October 23, 2026
Francis Duru
Francis Duru, the ace Nigerian actor, has passed away at the age of 57.

His family announced the news on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, revealing that he died following a brief illness.

“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the post reads.

“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

In June, the actor denied viral reports claiming he was battling a life-threatening illness.

The rumours gained traction after footage showing him in a frail condition circulated widely on social media, raising concern among fans and colleagues.

In response, Duru shared an Instagram video describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.

Duru was born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon, to parents of Nigerian origin from Imo state. He completed his primary and secondary education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria to pursue a university degree.

He gained admission to the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers state, where he studied Theatre Arts and earned a B.A. degree in 1996.

Duru made his entry into the Nigerian film industry in 1989 with a movie titled ‘Missing Mark,’ directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.

His appearance in the film did little to advance his career at the time, as he was still considered an up-and-coming actor.

He gained greater recognition in the industry in 1995 after appearing in ‘Rattlesnake,’ an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe. Duru played a notable role in the film as the character Ahanna.