Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria confirms the veteran actor’s death as fans and colleagues pay tribute to his three-decade career.
Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at 57 after a brief illness, his family announced early on Friday, October 23, 2026. The Actors Guild of Nigeria also confirmed his death.
Fans and colleagues have shared tributes online, remembering him as an actor, mentor and important figure in Nollywood. His career covered more than three decades, with roles in film, live theatre and industry leadership.
Francis Duru’s rise in Nollywood
Duru began acting in 1989 with Missing Mark. However, his breakthrough came in 1995, when he played the younger Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s Rattlesnake.
That performance introduced him to a wider audience and established him among the familiar faces of early Nollywood. He went on to appear in numerous films across his long screen career.
His credits included Blood Money, Nnenda, The Good Husband and Eagle Wings. He also featured in Merry Men, The Real Yoruba Demons and Mboputa.
In 2020, his performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) prize. The recognition came at the Best of Nollywood Awards.
Theatre training and industry leadership
Born Francis Ogide Duru on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon, he had Nigerian parents from Imo State. He spent part of his early life in Cameroon before moving to Nigeria for higher education.
Duru studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, graduating in 1996. His formal training therefore overlapped with the early years of his acting career.
Beyond screen roles, he also worked in live theatre and took on leadership responsibilities within the film industry. In 2010, he served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.
He held other industry positions as well. Earlier, in 2007, he received recognition as a United Nations Ambassador of Peace.
Family mourns another loss
Duru married his wife in 2003, and the couple had four children. However, the family suffered the loss of their son, Ifeanyi, in 2024.
His death comes two years after that bereavement, as tributes continue from fans and fellow actors.
