The death of veteran actor Francis Duru has cast a pall over the Nigerian film industry, bringing renewed attention to a career spanning more than three decades.

57-year-old Duru died after a brief illness, according to a statement released by his family on his verified Instagram page on Friday.

The family did not disclose details of the illness and asked for prayers and understanding.

Born Francis Ogide Duru on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, he had his primary and secondary education in Cameroon before relocating to Nigeria. He studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt and graduated in 1996.

He began his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko. Still, he rose to national prominence in 1995 when he played Ahanna in the classic Rattlesnake, produced by the late Amaka Igwe.

From the home-video era to the streaming age, Duru remained a familiar face, featuring in hundreds of productions across genres.

Beyond acting, he served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010, won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) at the 2020 Best of Nollywood Awards for Mboputa, and was named a United Nations Ambassador of Peace in 2007. ( The Nation)