Nollywood Veteran Francis Duru Dies At 57
Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, is dead. He was 57.
His family announced his demise on his official Instagram handle in the early hours of Friday, stating that he passed on after a brief illness.
The family also appealed to the public to keep them in prayers during this difficult period.
“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.
Duru’s death is coming a few months after he debunked rumours about his health.
In June, a viral video that showed the actor looking emaciated had raised concerns among fans about his wellbeing, with speculations that he was battling a serious ailment.
The actor, however, dismissed the claims in an Instagram video, describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious.”
From Cameroon to Nollywood Stardom
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents of Imo State origin, Duru had his primary and secondary education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria for tertiary education.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989 with a role in Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko, and rose to prominence after starring as Ahanna in the 1995 hit action-comedy, Rattlesnake, produced by the late Amaka Igwe.
Career Honours
In the course of his career, the late actor bagged several awards for his contributions to the Nigerian movie industry.
He was also honoured as a United Nations Ambassador for Peace for his positive influence on youths.
In 2020, he clinched the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
Family Life
Duru got married to Adokiye in 2003 and the union was blessed with four children.
The family, however, lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
BY ABDULBAQI JIBREEL AJAO
