Update (29/04): Academy Award-nominated Boyz n the Hood director John Singleton has died at age 51.
The filmmaker was hospitalised last week following a massive stroke. He was treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, but Deadline reported that his family chose to turn off his life support on Monday (April 29).
His family said in a statement after his death: "We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all of John’s fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time."
Among those paying tribute was Us director Jordan Peele, who tweeted: "RIP John Singleton. So sad to hear. John was a brave artist and a true inspiration. His vision changed everything."
Singleton earned an Academy Award nomination for his groundbreaking 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, which dramatised the real-life gang violence epidemic in South Central Los Angeles in that era.
He would go on to earn acclaim and box office success for directing Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur in the romantic drama Poetic Justice, the remake of Shaft and Fast & Furious sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious.
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He is survived by his mother Sheila Ward, his father Danny Singleton and his children Justice, Maasai, Hadar, Cleopatra, Selenesol, Isis and Seven.
Update (26/04): Director John Singleton is reportedly in a coma following the major stroke he suffered last week.
The filmmaker's mother has applied for a conservatorship order to take care of his affairs while he's unwell, and according to documents filed on her behalf, he is "currently hospitalised in a coma and is unable to provide for his personal needs" (via CNN).
Singleton's family have not yet publicly commented on the latest development.
Original story (21/04): John Singleton – director of 2 Fast 2 Furious and Boyz n the Hood – is in hospital after suffering a stroke.
Sources talking to Variety confirmed Singleton went to hospital after experiencing leg pain. Following this, he was diagnosed by doctors as having experienced a "mild" stroke.
"John is currently in the ICU and under great medical care," a family statement sent to Variety said.
"We ask that privacy be given to him and our family at this time and appreciate all of the prayers that have been pouring in from his fans, friends and colleagues."
The FX Networks also released a statement.
"We are sad to learn the news of John's condition, but we know he's a fighter," it said.
"The thoughts and prayers of everyone at FX and his Snowfall family are with him and we are hopeful for a complete and speedy recovery."
The director recently co-created FX's Snowfall, a crime drama about the '80s crack epidemic, set in Los Angeles. Following its success, it was renewed by FX for a third season in September 2018.
Singleton is best known for Boyz n the Hood, the 1991 film focusing on gang life in Los Angeles.
As well as being his directorial debut, it was also the acting debut of both Ice Cube and Morris Chestnut.
The film earned rave reviews, bagging Singleton Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Later, in 2003, he directed 2 Fast 2 Furious, before branching out into TV later in his career.
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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
