Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru, known for his role as Ahanna in the 1995 film Rattlesnake, has died at the age of 57 after a brief illness.
His family announced his death on his verified Instagram account in the early hours of Friday, thanking fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement said.
The family added, “May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”
Duru’s death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media, raising concerns among fans and colleagues.
The actor subsequently described the footage as “fabricated and malicious” in a video posted on Instagram.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru received his primary and secondary education in the country before moving to Nigeria for university studies.
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, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. He gained wider recognition six years later when he played Ahanna in Rattlesnake, produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.
Over the course of his career, he featured in numerous films, including Blood Vessel, Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons, The Good Husband and Mboputa.
In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa. He was also named a United Nations Ambassador of Peace in 2007 in recognition of his influence on young people.
Beyond acting, Duru worked with organisations including UNICEF, USAID and LEAP Africa on initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and education of African children. He also served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010.
He married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children. The family lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
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