Shonka Dukureh
(Picture: Instagram)Elvis actress Shonka Dukureh has been found dead in her apartment in Nashville, police said.
Dukureh, 44, was found unresponsive by one of her children on Thursday who ran to get assistance from a neighbour and later alerted the police.
Police said no foul play is suspected and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of her death.
My deepest condolences to the family of Shonka Dukureh. Shonka graduated from @Fisk1866 and called Nashville home for many years. Her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honor her memory on this sad day. https://t.co/0rjZ0lLWCg
— Mayor John Cooper (@JohnCooper4Nash) July 21, 2022
Dukureh achieved notoriety following her breakout role as Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis”.
She starred alongside Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker in the 2022 film.
Elvis marked the first major film role for Dukureh, who was born in North Carolina.
Nasville Mayor John Cooper said her “powerful voice and artistry” will live on.
In a public statement, he said: “My deepest condolences to the family of Shonka Dukureh.
“Shonka graduated from @Fisk1866 and called Nashville home for many years. Her powerful voice and artistry will live on through her music, and we honor her memory on this sad day.”
The actor, who also shared the stage at Coachella this year with Doja Cat, held a theatre degree from Fisk University and graduated from Trevecca Nazarene with an education degree, WPLN-FM reported.
In an interview with the station last month, Ms Dukureh said she taught second grade for a while and then worked with inner city youth through after-school and summer programs.
She said those students reached out after seeing her in “Elvis.”
