Nollywood has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actor, Francis Duru, who reportedly passed away at the age of 57 after a brief illness.

His death was announced by his family in the early hours of Friday 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 establish himself as a respected figure 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.