Veteran Nigerian actor Francis Duru, widely recognized for his role in the 1995 film Rattlesnake, has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness.
His family announced his death in a statement published on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing gratitude to fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support.
The family confirmed the loss and asked for understanding as they mourned the actor. Duru is survived by his wife, Adokiye, and their children.
Duru rose to prominence in Nollywood after playing Ahanna in Rattlesnake, a film produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. His performance helped establish him not just as one of the familiar faces of Nigerian cinema but its ‘golden boy’ during the industry’s formative years.
Born on 27 July 1969 in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in the country before moving to Nigeria for further studies.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
Duru began his acting career in 1989, making his film debut in Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He went on to feature in numerous productions over a career spanning several decades.
His film credits included Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020). His performance in Mboputa earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards.
Beyond acting, Duru was involved in the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, serving as its interim president in 2010. That year, he was also nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
In 2007, he received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in recognition of his influence on young people.
His death comes months after he publicly rejected reports that he was suffering from a life-threatening illness. In June, Duru posted a video on Instagram disputing claims about his health and criticizing the circulation of footage that had prompted speculation.
The actor’s death marks the loss of a performer whose work contributed to the growth of Nollywood and who remained active in Nigerian film for more than three decades.
