Nollywood Veteran Francis Duru Dies At 57

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57, according to reports circulating on Friday, October 23, 2026.

His family announced his death on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing appreciation to fans and well-wishers for their support.

Duru, who built a career spanning decades in the Nigerian film industry, was widely recognised for his role as Ahanna in the 1995 action film Rattlesnake, which helped establish his place in Nollywood.

The actor began his film career in 1989 with Missing Mark and went on to feature in several productions, including Blood Money, Nnenda and Mboputa. His performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.

Beyond acting, Duru served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010. He also received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace Award in 2007 in recognition of his positive influence on young people.

In June 2026, the actor had publicly dismissed social media reports claiming he was battling a life-threatening illness, describing the reports as false and misleading.