Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.

His death comes four month after Duru dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.

A video had shown the actor looking frail on social media, prompting concerns about his health. However
Duru described the reports from the footage as false and malicious, urging the public to disregard the claims.

In a statement posted on the actor’s verified Instagram account, @francis.duru, in the early hours of Friday, October 23, the family confirmed his death.

“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

The actor was widely recognised for his role as Ahanna in the 1995 film Rattlesnake, produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.

He also won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.

Duru’s death marks the loss of an actor whose career in the Nigerian film industry spanned more than three decades.