Waves of Shock Rip Through Hollywood as John Singleton, Director of “Boyz N the Hood,” Dies aged 51

At the tender age of 24, John Singleton became the youngest and the first African American filmmaker to receive an Oscar nomination for best director and best original screenplay for Boyz n the Hood (1991), NBC News reports.

The article cites stroke complications as the cause of 51-year-old film director’s death.

He passed away yesterday, April 29th, at the Cedars Sinai hospital in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles.

Singleton suffered a severe brain hemorrhage earlier this month, as per a statement released by his family ten days ago.

“On Wednesday, April 17th our beloved son/father, John Singleton, suffered a stroke while at the hospital. John is currently in the ICU and under great medical care,” the filmmaker’s family was quoted as saying.

Commenting on his untimely and tragic death, Singleton’s loved ones stated:

“We are grateful to his fans, friends and colleagues for the outpour of love and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” the family said Monday. “We want to thank all the doctors at Cedars Sinai for the impeccable care he received.”

Compassionate wishes began pouring through the social media as soon as the news of the filmmaker having suffered a stroke broke out, and continued coming in after he left this world for good.

 

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I really didnt want to believe I’d to have to write something like this about John. I am a believer of miracles. Alas…I met John when my older sister Kelly enrolled at USC in 1986 & quickly became friends with a group of fun loving, black, creative masterminds. They called themselves the “Black Pack” I was 13 then and in awe of how loud and proud they were. Each friend contributing a different vibe and talent. By the time I turned 18 they chaperoned (yeah right 🤗) my birthday party. When I transferred to UCLA they promised my family they would look out for me & they did. The entire time I’ve been in Hollywood I knew I had big brothers who had my back & that knowledge gave me wings. While they all accomplished so much, there was John breaking barrier after barrier making dreams into reality and never losing that loud and proud, by any means necessary mentality. Flash forward decades and I’d run into him in the islands or Miami and we’d laugh in awe and glee at how far we’d both come. I will forever be grateful to the Black Pack & John Singleton. You showed me exactly what we can do when we stick together. Love & Light to all his loved ones and fans. Hold onto one another, we are greater together. Rest in eternal peace 🙏🏾🙏🏾

A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on Apr 29, 2019 at 12:28pm PDT

Angela Bassett, who portrayed Reva Styles in “Boyz n the Hood,” said she shared a tearful remembrance of the day she auditioned for Singleton.

“He exuded many things that day…awareness, openness and above all, enthusiasm! Over the years, he never lost or left any of that behind,” Bassett said in a statement. “He provided and possessed a clarity of vision that I appreciate from that day till this. He gave a voice and an opportunity to many. Count me in that grateful number,” she told NBC.

Fellow “Boyz n the Hood” alumni Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ice Cube also released statements on Singleton’s death.

Gooding Jr. said he visited with Singleton at the hospital on Sunday and whispered in the director’s ear that he loved him.

Mourning the loss of a collaborator & True Friend John Singleton. He blazed the trail for many young film makers, always remaining true to who he was & where he came from!!! RIP Brother. Gone Way Too Soon!

— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) April 29, 2019

Ice Cube thanked Singleton for “believing in me when I was unsure of myself” in his statement.

“Your passion for telling our stories from our point of view was more than an obsession, it was your mission in life,” the rapper said. “Your love for the black experience was contagious and I would never be the man I am without knowing you,” the rap legend went on.