Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 following a brief illness. The family confirmed his death in a statement shared on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026, expressing grief over the loss and appreciation for the support of fans and well-wishers.
The veteran actor, best known for his role as Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s 1995 film Rattlesnake, built a career spanning more than three decades in the Nigerian film industry.
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abubakar Yakubu, also paid tribute to the actor, describing his death as the loss of another great figure in the film industry.
Francis Duru rose to prominence in 1995 through his portrayal of Ahanna in Rattlesnake, the acclaimed film produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe. The performance helped establish him as a familiar face among Nigerian movie audiences.
He began his acting career in 1989, appearing in Missing Mark, directed by the late filmmaker Ndubuisi Oko. Over the years, he featured in several productions, including Blood Money (1997), Stigma (2013) and Mboputa (2020).
Beyond acting, Duru contributed to the industry through leadership and advocacy. He served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and received a United Nations Ambassador of Peace award in 2007.
In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa, recognising his continued contribution to Nigerian filmmaking.
Earlier in 2026, the actor had dismissed social media reports suggesting that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In a video posted online in June, he described the circulating footage and claims about his health as false. His family’s announcement has not disclosed further details about the illness that preceded his death.
