Family announces passing of Rattlesnake star Francis Duru at 57
The family of veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has announced his passing 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, expressing appreciation to fans and well-wishers for their prayers, love and support.
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the statement read.
His death comes months after he dismissed reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness. In June, videos showing him looking frail circulated on social media, prompting concerns among fans and colleagues. Duru described the footage as “fabricated and malicious” in an Instagram video.
Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru later moved to Nigeria and studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.
He began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko, but gained wider recognition in 1995 for his role as Ahanna in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy produced by the late Amaka Igwe.
Throughout his career, Duru received several awards and honours, including recognition as a United Nations ambassador of peace for his influence on young people. In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in Mboputa.
Duru married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children together. The family lost one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
