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Oscar-nominated director John Singleton – known for films including Boyz N The Hood and his remake of detective movie Shaft – has passed on at the age of 51.
A family statement confirmed the influential filmmaker had “passed away peacefully” shortly after being removed from life support in Los Angeles.
Singleton had been in intensive care following a stroke.
Born in LA, Singleton was considered a trailblazer for African-American directors in the 1990s.
In 1992, he became the first African-American filmmaker to be nominated for the best director Oscar with his debut feature Boyz N The Hood.
Fresh out of college, he also became the youngest ever director to be nominated for the accolade.
He received a second nomination for best original screenplay for the film.
Early on Monday, the director’s family announced they had taken the “agonising decision” to remove him from life-support.
“We are grateful to his fans, friends and colleagues for the outpour of love and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” they said.
“We want to thank all the doctors at Cedars Sinai for the impeccable care he received.”
Singleton was born in 1968 and grew up in South Central Los Angeles. He told the Hollywood Reporter in 2014 his upbringing had made him “more of a fighter, more of a hustler, and it made me really appreciate life in a different way as a storyteller”.
After studying at a high school in Pasadena, Singleton went on to get a place at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Less than a month after graduation, he was making his formative Boyz N the Hood alongside producer Steve Nicolaides.
The film, partly inspired by his childhood, explored themes of youth and friendship with the backdrop of inner-city violence in Los Angeles.
The film was met with high-praise on its Cannes debut and went on to become a box-office success.
It offered breakout roles for actors including Angela Bassett, Nia Long and Cuba Gooding Jr. It also offered rapper Ice Cube his acting debut.