Legendary director John Singleton has passed away after suffering a massive stroke on April 17. Singleton, who was 51, went to a hospital complaining of weakness in one leg after arriving in the U.S. on a flight from Costa Rica.
While in the hospital, he suffered a massive stroke and was placed on life support in Cedars Sinai Hospital’s intensive care unit.
Singleton was pronounced dead on Monday, after his family revealed he would be taken off a ventilator that supported his breathing.
“This was an agonizing decision, one that our family made, over a number of days, with the careful counsel of John’s doctors,” the family stated. “We are grateful to his fans, friends and colleagues for the (outpouring) of love and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We want to thank all the doctors at Cedars Sinai for the impeccable care he received.”
Actress Taraji P. Henson, center, and actor Tyrese Gibson were among the last to see Singleton before he passed.
Taraji, 48, who was a frequent collaborator with Singleton, took to Instagram.com to write:
“Visited you today. Me and @tyrese prayed so hard over you. You heard my voice and jumped up. I HAVE HOPE AND FAITH BECAUSE I KNOW THAT #GODIS. Keep praying #EVERYBODY for our beloved @johnsingleton”.
Gibson, 40, who worked with Singleton on the movie Baby Boy, added:
“Heavy heart, state of shock but there was something powerful about feeling the presence of God that gave us the reassurance that God is going to pull him through this… The idea that me and taraji prayed hard over john so much history so much genuine love… We can only hope and keep praying that God brings him back to us!”
Singleton was nominated for two Oscars for 1991’s “Boyz n the Hood,” becoming the youngest best director nominee and first black person nominated for the same award.
His other films include “Poetic Justice,” starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, “Shaft,” “Baby Boy,” “2 Fast 2 Furious” and “Four Brothers.”
Singleton is survived by his mother, father Danny Singleton and seven children: Justice, Maasai, Hadar, Cleopatra, Selenesol, Isis and Seven.
Photos by Getty Images, WENN.com
