Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at 57 following a brief illness, his family announced in a statement shared on his official Instagram account.
The announcement, reported by Punch and TVC in the early hours of Friday, October 23, thanked fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support. It did not identify a specific medical cause.
Duru became widely recognised for playing Ahanna in the 1995 film Rattlesnake, produced by Amaka Igwe. His screen career began with Missing Mark in 1989.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996. In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role in Igbo award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for Mboputa.
The family’s announcement confirms his passing but provides no funeral arrangements. Further details should be attributed to subsequent family statements.
