Kanayo, Kate Henshaw, others mourn late actor Francis Duru

Some Nigerian actors have expressed grief over the death of veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru, describing him as a talented performer whose contributions to the film industry would be remembered. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Duru died on Friday at the age of 57 following a brief illness. His passing comes just two years after the tragic loss of his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, leaving fans and the film industry in deep mourning.

Actor Kanayo O. Kanayo, in a tribute shared on his Instagram page, described Duru as a consummate actor and one of Nigeria’s most versatile and prolific performers. “A consummate actor has left the stage. One of the most flexible, prolific performers Nigeria ever produced. Rest in peace, my brother,” Kanayo wrote. Actress Kate Henshaw also mourned Duru, reflecting on the brevity of life and praying for the repose of his soul.

“Like a flame gone out, so are our lives when it all ends,” she wrote, adding a prayer for God to grant Duru eternal rest and comfort his loved ones. Similarly, actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie expressed her grief, saying she was too overwhelmed by the loss to find the words to describe her feelings. “Too tired and speechless about this loss,” she wrote.

Actress Stephanie Linus described Duru’s death as tragic and heartbreaking, praying for strength for his family to bear the loss. “Such a tragic and heartbreaking loss. May God grant his family the strength and fortitude to bear this loss. May his soul rest in peace. RIP Francis Duru,” she wrote. The tributes reflect the grief of Duru’s colleagues over the loss of a fellow actor whose performances endeared him to audiences.

Duru rose to fame for his role as Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s classic film Rattlesnake, building a career that spanned more than three decades in the Nigerian film industry. The actor’s family announced his death in a statement on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Oct. 23, 2026. (NAN)