Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, has again been thrown into mourning as popular actor, Francis Duru, has died at the age of 57.
His family announced his death in a statement on Friday morning on the social media platform, Instagram, saying he died during a brief illness.
“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 family wrote.
Francis Duru, whose full name is Francis Ogide Duru, is one of the familiar faces in Nollywood some years ago.
He was born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State and he grew up in Cameroon before moving back to Nigeria for his formal education.
His acting career in the Nigerian film industry lasted more than 30 years
Duru studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State and graduated in 1996.
Duru began his movie career with Missing Mark in 1989. His breakthrough came with the 1995 film, Rattlesnake, produced by Amaka Igwe, where he acted the role of Ahanna. The movie helped him establish his reputation and opened the door to more opportunities in Nollywood.
Over the years, Duru appeared in a number of movies, including Blood Money, Nnenda, The Good Husband, Eagle Wings and Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons.
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 also received the United Nations Ambassador of Peace Award for 2007 for his positive influence on young people.
