Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru dies at 57 after brief illness

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru died at 57 in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026, following a brief illness. His family announced the passing through a statement on his verified Instagram account, requesting prayers and privacy while confirming no further details about the illness would be disclosed.

Duru's career spanned more than three decades, beginning with his screen debut in 1989's Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He gained national recognition in 1995 with his role in Rattlesnake, the acclaimed production by late filmmaker Amaka Igwe that helped define Nollywood's early years. Born July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru later earned a Theatre Arts degree from the University of Port Harcourt in 1996.

His contributions earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards for Mboputa, and recognition as a United Nations ambassador of peace for youth development and social advocacy. Duru belonged to the generation of actors who built Nollywood into a major African entertainment force during the 1990s home-video boom.

The loss compounds personal tragedy for the family—Duru's youngest son, Ifeanyi, died in August 2024. The industry has also mourned other veterans recently: Olu Jacobs died at 84 in September 2026 after a five-decade career, and actress Rachel Oniga passed at 64 in July 2021.

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/10/23/veteran-nollywood-actor-francis-duru-dies-at-57/