Francis Duru, a well-known and admired star of Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry, has sadly died at age 57 after a short illness. His family shared this sad news through his verified Instagram account on Friday morning. They also thanked fans and supporters for their love and encouragement throughout his life.

“We, the family of Francis Duru, with deep sadness announce his passing after a short illness. We are very grateful for your prayers, love, and strong support during this hard time. May his soul rest in peace. Amen,” the family wrote.

Duru’s death comes several months after he publicly denied reports that he was dealing with serious health problems. In June, worry spread among his fans and colleagues when a video went viral showing the actor looking very weak. In response, Duru posted a video on Instagram saying the footage was “false and harmful.”

Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to parents from Imo State, Nigeria, Duru finished his primary and secondary school there before moving to Nigeria for higher education. Duru started his acting career in 1989 with Missing Mark, directed by the famous late director Ndubuisi Oko. He became famous in 1995 after his strong performance in Rattlesnake, an action-comedy film by director Amaka Igwe, where he played the character Ahanna. During his long career, Duru won many important awards and honors for his great work in Nigerian films. He was also named a United Nations peace ambassador, showing his strong and lasting effect on young people.