BREAKING: Nollywood Loses A Legend — Veteran Actor Francis Duru Dies At 57
BREAKING: Nollywood Loses A Legend — Veteran Actor Francis Duru Dies At 57
By Success Okezie
Nollywood has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actor, Francis Duru, who passed away at the age of 57 after a brief illness.
The news of his demise was announced by his family in the early hours of Friday, October 23, in a deeply emotional statement posted on the actor’s verified Instagram page.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness. We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen,” the statement read.
The death of the versatile actor has sent shockwaves across the Nigerian entertainment industry, coming just months after he publicly debunked rumours about his health.
Recall that in June 2026, concerns had gripped fans and colleagues after a video showing a frail-looking Duru made the rounds on social media, sparking speculations that he was battling a life-threatening illness. The actor, however, swiftly dismissed the reports in an Instagram video, describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious.”
*A Career That Built Nollywood*
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru had his early education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria where he bagged a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt in 1996.
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