Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died following a brief illness, his family has announced.

The family disclosed his passing in a statement published on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, expressing appreciation to fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support.

“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.

Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports suggesting that he was battling a life-threatening illness.

In June, concerns emerged among fans and colleagues after a video showing the actor looking frail circulated on social media. However, Duru subsequently addressed the reports in a video shared on Instagram, describing the footage as “fabricated and malicious”.

Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his primary and secondary education in the country before moving to Nigeria for his university education.

He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.

Duru began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, a film directed by the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko. He rose to wider prominence in 1995 after starring as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.

Over the years, he earned several awards and honours for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace in recognition of his influence on young people.

In 2020, Duru won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.

The actor married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and the couple had four children. The family suffered a tragic loss in August 2024 following the death of their child, Ifeanyi.

His death marks a significant loss to Nollywood, where he built a career spanning several decades and earned recognition for his contributions to Nigerian cinema.