Late Nollywood actor, Francis Duru
Nollywood has lost another of its familiar faces, with veteran actor Francis Duru dying at 57, barely five weeks after the death of screen legend Olu Jacobs.
Duru’s family announced his death in a statement shared on his Instagram page on Friday, October 23, 2026, saying he died after a brief illness.
The actor’s death adds to the list of Nollywood stars the industry has mourned this year, including Jacobs and Alex Ekubo.
Duru spent more than three decades in the Nigerian film industry, earning recognition for his performances in films that helped shape Nollywood’s early years.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, he later moved to Nigeria for his education and studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1996.
He began acting in 1989, featuring in Missing Mark, before gaining wider recognition for his role as Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s 1995 classic, Rattlesnake.
The role remains one of his best-known performances. Stan Nze later played Ahanna in the 2020 remake, Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story.
Over the years, Duru appeared in several other productions, including Blood Money, Home in Exile, Stigma, The Good Husband and Mboputa.
His performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role award in the Igbo-language category at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.
Duru’s work extended beyond the screen. He was involved in youth development initiatives and worked with organisations including UNICEF, USAID and LEAP Africa. He was also named a United Nations Ambassador of Peace in 2007 and served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010.
His death comes weeks after Jacobs died on September 16 at the age of 84. Jacobs enjoyed a career spanning theatre, television and film and was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most respected actors.
Ekubo, known for his roles in Nollywood films, also died in May at the age of 40.
With Duru’s passing, the industry has lost another actor whose work reached audiences across different generations. His performances, particularly in the early years of Nollywood, remain part of the history of Nigerian cinema.
He is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children. Funeral arrangements had not been announced at the time of filing this report.
