Francis Duru, Renowned Nigerian Actor, Dies at 57

Francis Duru, a veteran actor in the Nigerian film industry, died on October 23, 2026, following a brief illness. Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, he completed his education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria.

Duru studied Theatre Arts at the University of Nigeria, graduating in 1996. He began his acting career in the late 1980s and gained prominence with the film Rattlesnake, which became a significant production in the 1990s.

Throughout his career, he appeared in various films including Blood Money, Home in Exile, Stigma, and Mboputa. Duru served as the interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2010 Africa Movie Academy Awards.

He won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa. Duru was also honored with the United Nations Ambassador of Peace Award.

He married Adokiye Duru in 2003, and they celebrated their 20th anniversary in May 2023. Tragically, he announced the death of his youngest son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.