The family of John Singleton says the director was taken off life support on Monday following a stroke earlier this month, the New York Times reports. Singleton, known for films like Boyz n the Hood and 2 Fast 2 Furious, was 51.
He is the first African-American filmmaker nominated for a Best Director Oscar — as well as the youngest ever nominated, at age 24. He recently co-created the crime drama Snowfall and directed episodes of Empire and American Crime Story. In a statement to Deadline, the family noted Singleton suffered from hypertension, and wanted to raise awareness for its symptoms.
Celebrities and friends of Singleton, including Jordan Peele, Regina King, and Chance the Rapper, took to social media to express their sadness over the director’s health. Their posts are below: