BREAKING: Actor Francis Duru Is Dead, 4 Months After Denying Terminal Illness Speculations
Some four months after denying he was battling a disease, Nollywood Actor Francis Duru hass passed away following what family and the Actors Guild of Nigeria described as a brief illness.
Born July 27, 1969, he was 57 years old.
In June 2026, Duru had personally released a video to debunk viral social media claims that he was battling a terminal illness.
He had called those circulating the news as “merchants of darkness.”
Early this morning, October 23, 2026, his family announced via his verified Instagram page that he had died after a brief illness.
Confirming the news, Abubakar Yakubu, President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, and other industry colleagues, said the Actor had indeed passed on.
Duru, who married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, had four children.
He lost his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.
There has been an outpouring of tributes from fans and the Nigerian entertainment community.
BATTLING RUMOUR OF SICKNESS
The 56-year-old Actor spoke in an Instagram video after footage showing him in a frail state circulated widely on social media, sparking concern among fans, friends and colleagues.
Duru said the claim that he was battling a life-threatening illness was false, insisting that he had never been as sick as portrayed in the viral video.
“I am making this video with regard to very wicked videos circulating around about me being sick to the level that you could see in that video,” he said.
“Well, I have never been that sick and will never be that sick. And by God’s grace, we keep being stronger and stronger.”
The Actor condemned those behind the video, accusing them of deliberately creating negative content to attract traffic online.
“That video is a handiwork of merchants of darkness, of wickedness, people who sit and concoct negativity for people,” he said.
“You just don’t want to see people rise. You just don’t believe in people’s success, all in the course of driving traffic.”
Duru also raised concern about the growing use of manipulated content and possible artificial intelligence tools to mislead the public and damage people’s reputations.
“And if this is what social media is all about or AI, then we are in big trouble indeed,” he said.
The Actor said the rumour had frightened some of his friends and acquaintances, many of whom reached out in fear and confusion.
He urged members of the public to disregard any report suggesting that he was critically ill, stressing that the video was not a true reflection of his health.
“This is just to let you guys know that this is me talking to you. Anything beyond this is their business,” he said.
“Please, my friends who have been embarrassed, scared, even to call me, and those who just call for calling sake, just to know whether it is true, well, this is me.”
DEATH CONFIRMED BY ACTORS GUILD AND FAMILY
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Mr Abubakar Yakubu, in a Facebook post in the wee hours of Friday, confirmed the death of the thespian.
“Another great thespian is gone. Rest in peace, Francis Duru,” the leader of the actors’ group in Nigeria wrote.
The family, in a message on the Actor’s verified Instagram page, confirmed Duru died after 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 post read.
He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt, and rose to become a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry.
In 2010, was appointed as the interim President of AGN.