The curtain has fallen on veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru, who has died at 57 following a brief illness.
His family announced the sad news on Friday morning in an Instagram statement, bringing to an end a career that made Duru one of the familiar faces of Nigerian cinema.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement said.
“We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”
The announcement comes months after concerns were raised about Duru’s health when a video showing him looking frail circulated on social media.
At the time, the actor pushed back strongly against reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.
In a video posted on Instagram, Duru described the circulating footage and claims surrounding his health as “fabricated and malicious,” insisting that reports suggesting he was seriously ill were untrue.
Duru enjoyed a career spanning decades and became one of Nollywood’s recognisable veteran actors, appearing in numerous movies and television productions.
Known for his versatility and commanding screen presence, he belonged to the generation that helped nurture Nollywood from its formative years into an entertainment industry with audiences across Africa and beyond.
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