R.I.P. John Singleton.

Film director, screenwriter, producer John Singleton passed away today after being taken off live support Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He was 51.

Singleton had been in a coma after suffering a sever stroke on April 17. The Singleton family has released the statement.

“We are sad to relay that John Singleton has died. John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends. We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all of John’s fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time.”

The South Central L.A. native’s classic directorial debut film, Boyz N The Hood (1991) earned him an Academy nomination for Best Director. He became the first African American director to be nominated and the youngest male ever at just the age of 24 years-old.

Singleton is also well-known for other films including Poetic Justice (1993), Higher Learning (1995), Rosewood (1997), Shaft (2000), Baby Boy (2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Hustle & Flow (2005), Four Brothers (2005) and more. In 1992, he directed the music video for Michael Jackson’s “Remember The Time“.

Most recently, John was the co-creator and executive producer of the FX crime drama series, Snowfall, which was renewed last year for its third season. Rest easy, John.

Source: TMZ