LAGOS — Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57, his family announced on Friday, saying he died after a brief illness. The Actors Guild of Nigeria confirmed his death.

Born in Cameroon to parents from Imo State, Duru studied theatre arts at the University of Port Harcourt. He made his screen debut in "Missing Mark" in 1989 and became widely known in 1995 as the young Ahanna in Amaka Igwe's "Rattlesnake". His other films include "Blood Money", "Stigma" and "The Good Husband".

He served as interim president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2010 and was named a UN Ambassador of Peace in 2007. Tributes have come from colleagues and organisations including the Africa Women Conference, which described him as a long-standing member of its family. He is survived by his wife and children.