Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Dies at 57 After Brief Illness
Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family has announced.
The family disclosed the actor’s death in a statement published on his official Instagram page, expressing sadness over the loss.
“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.
The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abubakar Yakubu, also mourned the actor, describing him as a talented performer and announcing that the guild had lost one of its own.
Duru’s death comes days after he released a video debunking reports about his health following the circulation of a video showing him looking sickly.
In his response, the actor described the viral video as the handiwork of “merchants of darkness and evil,” accusing those behind it of portraying him in a health condition that did not reflect his actual state at the time.
Born on July 12, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru attended the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts.
He began his journey in the Nigerian movie industry with the film Missing Mark and went on to establish himself as a respected actor through his contributions to Nollywood.
His death marks the loss of a talented figure in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
