Veteran Nigerian actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family confirmed his death in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page on Friday, October 23, 2026, expressing appreciation to fans and well-wishers for their support.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement said, without disclosing further details about his condition or the circumstances surrounding his death.
Duru was widely recognised for his role as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the 1995 film produced by the late Nigerian filmmaker Amaka Igwe. He began his acting career in 1989 and went on to feature in several Nollywood productions, including Blood Money and Mboputa.
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 served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010.
His death comes months after he dismissed reports circulating online in June that he was critically ill, describing the footage used in those reports as false.
Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children. His death has been confirmed by the Actors Guild of Nigeria, whose president, Abubakar Yakubu, paid tribute to him as a great thespian.