Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru is dead. He passed away at the age of 57 following a brief illness.

His family announced his death on Friday morning through his official Instagram page.

In a statement, the family said: “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.”

Duru rose to prominence after starring as Nnamdi in the movie Rattlesnake. He began his acting career in the 1980s and went on to become a familiar face in the Nigerian film industry.

Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his early education there before moving to Nigeria to pursue higher education.

The late actor married Adokiye in 2003, and the couple had four children together.