Director John Singleton speaks about his experiences directing actor Samuel L. Jackson at the American Cinematheque tribute honoring Jackson in Beverly Hills, California, December 1, 2008. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - John Singleton, who made his directorial debut with the acclaimed film "Boyz n the Hood" about young men struggling in a gang-ridden Los Angeles neighborhood, died on Monday at the age of 51, his family said, days after he suffered a stroke.
"We are sad to relay that John Singleton has died," the family said in a statement. "John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends."
Spike Lee (L) and John Singleton pose for pictures during the "Four Brothers" movie premiere in New York August 9, 2005. REUTERS/Seth Wenig
Earlier on Monday, the family said it had made the "agonizing decision" to withdraw life support from Singleton, who was being cared for at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles since having a stroke on April 17.
Singleton was a native of South Central Los Angeles, the community that was the setting for "Boyz n the Hood," a drama about friendship amid the peril of gang violence.
He became the first African-American and the youngest person to be nominated for an Academy award for best director, at age 24, for the movie, which he also wrote.
Director John Singleton poses with his newly unveiled star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood August 26, 2003. Singleton is best
known for his film "Boyz N the Hood" and current film "2 Fast 2
Furious." REUTERS/Fred Prouser
FSP/GAC - RP4DRHZBGWAA
Singleton later directed films such as action film "2 Fast 2 Furious" and historical drama "Rosewood." He also directed episodes of TV shows including "Empire" and "Billions."
Most recently, Singleton was the co-creator and executive producer of FX network TV series "Snowfall" about the start of the cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles.
His family said Singleton was "a prolific, ground-breaking director who changed the game and opened doors in Hollywood, a world that was just a few miles away, yet worlds away, from the neighborhood in which he grew up."
Director John Singleton accepts the Image Award for outstanding directing in a television movie, for "Four Brothers", at the 37th annual "NAACP Image Awards" at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles February 25, 2006. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards honor outstanding achievements and performances of people of color as well as those individuals who promote social justice. The show airs on Fox on March 3. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
He also "loved nothing more than giving opportunities to new talent" including Tupac Shakur, Regina King, Ice Cube and Taraji P. Henson, the family said.
Hollywood celebrities paid tribute to Singleton on Monday.
"John was a brave artist and a true inspiration. His vision changed everything," filmmaker Jordan Peele wrote on Twitter.
The stars of the film 'Akeelah and the Bee' Laurence Fishburne (C) and Angela Bassett (R) are congratulated director John Singleton, a guest at the film's Los Angeles premiere in Beverly Hills, California April 20, 2006. REUTERS/Fred Prouser
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; editing by Tom Brown and Marguerita Choy)
Music composer and award recipient Quincy Jones (R) greets director John Singleton at the 5th annual Behind the Lens award ceremony in Beverly Hills, California October 24, 2006. The award was established in 2002 to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of people of color who work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniDirector and cast member Chris Rock (L) poses with director John Singleton at the after-party for the premiere of "I Think I Love My Wife" at Boulevard 3 in Los Angeles March 7, 2007. The movie opens in the U.S. March 16. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniFILE PHOTO: Actor Taraji P. Henson poses with Mary J. Blige and director John Singleton after receiving a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 28, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoUS director Singleton juggles with ball as US actor Wahlberg looks on during photocall in Deauville France. U.S. director John Singleton (L) juggles with a ball as U.S actor Mark Wahlberg looks on during a photocall before their film the premier of their movie "Four Brothers" at the 31st American Film Festival of Deauville, France September 10, 2005. REUTERS/Franck Prevel
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