Veteran Nigerian actor Francis Duru, renowned for his role as Ahanna in the 1995 film Rattlesnake, has died at the age of 57, his family has announced.
The family disclosed his death in a statement published on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026, saying he passed away following a brief illness.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement read.
The family expressed appreciation for the support, prayers and understanding received during the period, praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.
His death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and prominent figures in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, bringing to a close a screen career that spanned more than three decades.
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abubakar Yakubu, expressed grief over the actor’s death in a Facebook post.
“Another great thespian is gone. Rest in peace, Francis Duru,” Yakubu wrote.
Seun Oloketuyi, founder of the Best of Nollywood Awards, also confirmed the development in a social media post.
Duru’s death comes months after he publicly rejected speculation about his health following the circulation of a social media video showing him looking frail.
In June, the actor described the footage as “fabricated and malicious” in a video shared on Instagram, dismissing reports suggesting that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru began his acting career in 1989, featuring in Missing Mark, a production directed by the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko.
He rose to wider prominence in 1995 after playing Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. The role helped establish his place among the recognisable faces of Nollywood’s early generation.
Beyond his work on screen, Duru pursued formal training in the performing arts at the University of Port Harcourt, where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
His career subsequently extended across numerous film productions, earning him recognition for his contributions to Nigerian cinema.
Among his honours was the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
Duru also played a leadership role in the industry, serving as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace.
Away from the screen, the actor was married to Adokiye, whom he wed in 2003, and the couple had four children.
The family endured a devastating loss in August 2024 when their 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, died.
Speaking previously about the tragedy, Duru described how he continued to fulfil his professional and religious commitments despite his grief.
“The Saturday they buried my son, on Sunday I was in church doing what? Doing what I am supposed to do,” he said.
He also disclosed that his activities extended beyond acting to theatre, consultancy and academic pursuits.
Duru’s death represents a significant loss to Nigeria’s film industry, where he built a career through a wide range of performances and contributions to the development of Nollywood over more than three decades.
