Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 after a brief illness, according to a statement shared on his official Instagram page on October 23, 2026. His death comes two years after the loss of his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
Born Francis Ogide Duru on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, he began his acting career in 1989. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996, and later earned a master’s degree in Development Communication from Nasarawa State University.
Francis Duru became widely known for playing Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s classic film Rattlesnake (1995). He went on to appear in productions including Blood Money, Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons and Blood Vessel, while also working as a filmmaker, director and youth mentor.
The actor was married to Adokiye Duru, whom he met while studying at the University of Port Harcourt. They married in 2003 and had four children. The family suffered the loss of their son Ifeanyi in 2024, a tragedy Duru spoke about publicly.
Throughout his career, Duru contributed to Nollywood both on screen and through industry leadership. He served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and received recognition for his work, including a Best of Nollywood Award in 2020 for his performance in the Igbo-language film Mboputa.
