Legendary Nollywood actor Francis Duru passed away on Wednesday at the age of 57 after a short illness, his family said.
The news of the actor’s death was released on his official Instagram page early Friday morning, October 23, 2026.
The statement said, “The family of Francis Duru expresses their condolences that he has passed away after succumbing to a short illness.
The family also expressed their gratitude towards those who have been helping them through the hard times, and they requested prayers for their loss.
We thank you for your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in peace. Amen, it added.
Actor’s Guild of Nigeria National President, Abubakar Yakubu, also confirmed the actor’s death and paid tribute to the actor.
“Another wonderful thespian has passed away. Rest in peace, Francis Duru.”
Francis Duru’s Death Comes Two Years After Son’s Passing
The death of the veteran actor comes about two years after he lost his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
Duru has already been seen publicly crying for his son and has been expressing his sadness on social media over the past few days. The actor’s loss was a sad occasion for him and his family.
The actor spoke at the event in August 2025, one year after Ifeanyi passed away, to remember him and how heartbreaking the experience of losing their child is and how hard it is to recover.
Francis Duru’s Nollywood Career
Francis Duru was a familiar name in the Nigerian film industry with over 30 years of acting experience.
He started his career in Nollywood in 1989 and became more popular after playing in the film Rattlesnake (1995), directed by the late Amaka Igwe. One of the productions associated with his career that was notable was the movie, in which he played Ahanna.
Duru was born on 27/7/1969 and studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he graduated in 1996.
He was not just an actor, but also played a role in the development of the industry. He was the interim President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010.
His performance in Mboputa won him the Best Actor in an Igbo language film at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards and earned him recognition.
Duru was also named United Nations Ambassador of Peace for his positive gestures with children.
His death comes as another sad loss to Nollywood, as he was a man who has been providing entertainment for the past many years in movies and helping the Nigerian entertainment industry grow over the years.
As further accolades are pouring in, the actor’s legacy and contributions to Nigerian cinema continue to be remembered.
There were no details available at this time about his funeral arrangements.
