Editing John Singleton

{{Short description|American filmmaker (1968–2019)}}
{{about|the American director|other people named John Singleton|John Singleton (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = John Singleton 2000.jpg
| caption            = Singleton in 2000
| name               = John Singleton
| birth_name         = John Daniel Singleton
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1968|1|6}}
| birth_place        = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2019|4|28|1968|1|6}}
| death_place        = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| resting_place      = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], [[Hollywood Hills|Hollywood Hills, California]], U.S.
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Akosua Busia]]|1996|1997|end=div}}
| years active       = 1988–2019
| occupation         = {{hlist|Director|screenwriter|producer}}
| children           = 7
}}
'''John Daniel Singleton''' (January 6, 1968 {{ndash}} April 28, 2019) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer. He made his feature film debut writing and directing ''[[Boyz n the Hood]]'' (1991), for which he was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Director]], becoming, at age 24, the first [[List of black Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Director|African American]] and [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Youngest nominees|youngest nominee]] in the category.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How John Singleton Made History as the Oscars' First Black Best Director Nominee|work=IndieWire |date=April 29, 2019 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/john-singleton-oscars-first-black-best-director-nominee-boyz-n-the-hood-1202129312/|access-date=2020-08-03}}</ref>

Singleton went on to write and direct other films, such as the romantic drama ''[[Poetic Justice (film)|Poetic Justice]]'' (1993), the socially conscious college-based drama ''[[Higher Learning]]'' (1995), the historical drama ''[[Rosewood (film)|Rosewood]]'' (1997), the crime film ''[[Shaft (2000 film)|Shaft]]'' (2000), the coming-of-age drama ''[[Baby Boy (film)|Baby Boy]]'' (2001) and the action films ''[[2 Fast 2 Furious]]'' (2003), and ''[[Four Brothers (film)|Four Brothers]]'' (2005). In television, he {{nowrap|co-created}} the television crime drama ''[[Snowfall (TV series)|Snowfall]]'' and directed episodes of shows such as ''[[Empire (2015 TV series)|Empire]]'', ''[[Rebel (2017 TV series)|Rebel]]'' and the fifth episode of ''[[The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story]]''. He was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special]] for the latter.

One of the most successful and groundbreaking directors in [[African American cinema|African-American cinema]], Singleton and his films represented the African-American urban experience, focusing on themes such as black masculinity, trauma, racism and identity. Singleton frequently cast rappers and musicians, such as [[Ice Cube]], [[Tupac Shakur]], [[Janet Jackson]], [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Tyrese Gibson]], [[Snoop Dogg]], [[Ludacris]] and [[André 3000]] in prominent roles.

== Early life ==
John Singleton was born on January 6, 1968,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/01/06/UPI-Almanac-for-Sunday-Jan-6-2019/8591546568650/ |title= UPI Almanac for Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019|work=[[United Press International]]|date=January 6, 2019|access-date=September 10, 2019|archive-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20190911222236/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/01/06/UPI-Almanac-for-Sunday-Jan-6-2019/8591546568650/|url-status=live|quote= filmmaker John Singleton in 1968 (age 51)}}</ref> in Los Angeles, the son of Shelia Ward-Johnson (later Morgan), a pharmaceutical company sales executive, and Danny Singleton, a real estate agent, mortgage broker, and financial planner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/89/John-Singleton.html |title=John Singleton Biography (1968–) |publisher=Film Reference |access-date=October 8, 2010}}</ref> In a 1993 DIRT magazine interview with [[Veronica Chambers]], Singleton says of his childhood, "When I was growing up, comic books, video games and movies were my buffer against all the drugs, the partying and shit [...] I never grew up with a whole lot of white people. I grew up in a black neighborhood."<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Chambers|first1=Veronica|date=1993|title=Singleton|magazine=DIRT Magazine|issue=5|page=28}}</ref> He attended [[Eisenhower High School (Rialto, California)|Eisenhower High School]], [[Blair International Baccalaureate School|Blair High School]], [[Pasadena City College]] and the [[USC School of Cinematic Arts]].

Singleton was a spring 1987 initiate into the Beta Omega chapter of [[Kappa Alpha Psi]] and graduated from [[University of Southern California|USC]] in 1990. Singleton considered pursuing [[computer science]], but enrolled in USC's Filmic Writing program under Margaret Mehring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www-cntv.usc.edu/about/news/margaret-mehring.htm|publisher=USC School of Cinematic Arts |title=Margaret Mehring |date=September 3, 2008|access-date=October 8, 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819133815/http://www-cntv.usc.edu/about/news/margaret-mehring.htm|archive-date=August 19, 2010}}</ref> The program was designed to take students directly into the Hollywood system as proficient writer/directors.

==Career==
{{more citations needed|section|date=April 2019}}

===1990s: Early career and breakthrough===
In 1991, Singleton made his feature film debut with ''[[Boyz n the Hood]]'', a coming-of-age crime drama about three childhood friends growing up in the crime-ridden neighborhood of South Central LA. Starring [[Cuba Gooding Jr.]], [[Ice Cube]], [[Nia Long]], [[Morris Chestnut]], [[Angela Bassett]], [[Regina King]], and [[Laurence Fishburne]], the film was both a critical and commercial success. It debuted at the [[Cannes Film Festival]]. For his efforts, Singleton received Academy Award nominations for [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]] and [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]].<ref name="PickfordAward">{{cite web |title=Mary Pickford Foundation Alumni Award |url=http://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/pickford-award.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826032620/http://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/pickford-award.htm |archive-date=August 26, 2009 |publisher=USC Cinema}}</ref> At age 24, he became the [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Youngest nominees|youngest person ever nominated for Best Director]] and the [[List of black Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Director|first African-American]] to be nominated for the award. In 2002, the United States [[Library of Congress]] deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/film/titles.html|title=Films Selected to The National Film Registry, Library of Congress 1989–2008|access-date=July 17, 2009|publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref>

In 1992, following the success of ''Boyz n the Hood'', Singleton went on to direct VFX-driven "[[Remember the Time]]" music video for [[Michael Jackson]], which featured [[Eddie Murphy]], [[Iman (model)|Iman]], and [[Magic Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/04/arts/review-video-michael-jackson-s-costly-new-promotional-clip.html?pagewanted=1|title=Review/Video; Michael Jackson's Costly New Promotional Clip|last=Parales|first=Jon|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 4, 1992|access-date=February 11, 2010}}</ref> The song and the music video were well-received and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles as well as the Mainstream Top 40 chart. It is certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, the song was a Top 10 hit in nine countries, peaking at No.1 in New Zealand, at No.2 in Spain and No.3 in the United Kingdom.

In 1993, Singleton wrote and directed his second film, ''[[Poetic Justice (film)|Poetic Justice]]'', a romantic drama about a young African-American woman named Justice (played by [[Janet Jackson]], in her film debut) who writes poetry to deal with the loss of her boyfriend to gun violence but soon encounters a postal worker (played by [[Tupac Shakur]]), who helps her overcome depression. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but earned Jackson Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Song for "Again", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The film has developed a cult following, especially for the chemistry between Jackson and Shakur and is now considered as one of Singleton's most enduring films.

In 1995, Singleton wrote and directed ''[[Higher Learning]]'', a socially conscious drama about the intense racial and social tension in a university campus. Like ''Poetic Justice'', the film received mixed reviews.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Of his work with some of the 1990s' most visible rappers, Singleton states, <blockquote>"I come from the same place as rappers. It's cool because it's just another form of communication. I have the same sensibilities as rappers. I'm not bourgeois and everything, thinking I'm better than folks. I see myself as the first filmmaker from the hip-hop generation. I've grown up with hip-hop music. The films I make have a hip-hop aesthetic. It may not have rap in it, but there's a whole culture and politics that go with the music. It's young, black culture-that's what I deal with in my films."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Chambers|first1=Veronica|date=1993|title=Singleton|url=https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt7489q3mv/|journal=DIRT Magazine|issue=5|page=31|via=Online Archive of California; University of California, Los Angeles Library Special Collections}}</ref></blockquote>

In 1997, following the mixed reception of ''Poetic Justice'' and ''Higher Learning'', Singleton's fourth film, ''[[Rosewood (film)|Rosewood]]'', a historical drama based on racial violence during the 1923 [[Rosewood massacre]] in Florida, received generally positive reviews and was entered into the [[47th Berlin International Film Festival]], where it was nominated for the Golden Bear.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1997/02_programm_1997/02_Programm_1997.html |title=Berlinale: 1997 Programme |access-date=January 12, 2012 |work=berlinale.de}}</ref>

===2000s: Continued success===
In 2000, Singelton co-wrote, co-produced and directed ''[[Shaft (2000 film)|Shaft]]'', a sequel-remake of the [[Shaft (1971 film)|original 1971 film of the same name]] starring [[Richard Roundtree]] in the [[John Shaft|title role]]. Starring [[Samuel L. Jackson]] as Shaft's relative, John Shaft Jr., the film received generally positive reviews and was a box office success, grossing over $107 million worldwide.

In 2001, ten years after the release of ''Boyz n the Hood'', Singleton wrote, produced, and directed ''[[Baby Boy (film)|Baby Boy]]'', a coming-of-age comedy-drama about Jody Summers (played by [[Tyrese Gibson]]), a 20-year-old man who fathers two children by two different women- Yvette (played by [[Taraji P. Henson]]) and Peanut (played by [[Tamara Bass|Tamara LaSeon Bass]]) but still lives with his own mother (played by [[Adrienne-Joi Johnson]]) while he lives and learns in his everyday life in the hood of Los Angeles. The film received predominantly positive reviews, many of whom considered it to be a return to form for Singleton and one of his best films.

Singleton's next film was ''[[2 Fast 2 Furious]]'' (2003), the sequel to ''[[The Fast and the Furious (2001 film)|The Fast and the Furious]]'' (2001) and the second installment in the ''[[Fast and Furious]]'' series. The film was a box office success, grossing over $236 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the series at the time, as well as the highest-grossing film of Singleton's career.

In 2005, Singleton teamed with writer-director [[Craig Brewer]] to finance and produce the [[independent film]] ''[[Hustle and Flow]]'', once it was clear that most other major backers would not clear it for release.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} The film stars [[Terrence Howard]] as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper. Also starring [[Anthony Anderson]] and [[Taraji P. Henson]] in supporting roles, the film received positive reviews and earned two [[Academy Awards]] nominations for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] and [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]], winning the latter.

That same year, Singleton directed ''[[Four Brothers (film)|Four Brothers]]'', a [[blaxploitation]]-inspired action film starring [[Mark Wahlberg]], [[Tyrese Gibson]], [[André Benjamin]] and [[Garrett Hedlund]] as four adopted brothers who return to their hometown of [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]] to avenge the murder of their adoptive mother. The film received mixed reviews from critics but grossed $92 million worldwide.

In 2003, Singleton received a star at the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://walkoffame.com/john-singleton/|title=John Singleton|date=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

===2010s: Unrealized projects===
[[File:John Singleton 2013.jpg|thumb|200px|Singleton in 2013]]
In 2011, Singleton was in talks with Ice Cube, who worked with Singleton on ''Boyz n the Hood'' and ''Higher Learning'', to direct a [[Straight Outta Compton (film)|biopic]] about Cube's rap group [[N.W.A.]] before [[F. Gary Gray]] was hired in August 2012. The film was released in 2015 to positive reviews and box office success.

Two years later, in 2013, Singleton was attached as the writer-director of a biopic about the life, career and death of rapper [[Tupac Shakur]]. On April 3, 2015, Singleton reported that production was put on hold.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/new-tupac-biopic-on-hold-says-director-john-singleton-20150403 |title=New Tupac Biopic 'On Hold,' Says Director John Singleton |author=Grow, Kory |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=April 3, 2015 |access-date=April 4, 2015 |archive-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901203012/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/new-tupac-biopic-on-hold-says-director-john-singleton-20150403 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following creative differences with [[Morgan Creek Productions]], Singleton had stepped down as director, and was replaced by [[Carl Franklin]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/carl-franklin-to-replace-director-john-singleton-on-tupac-biopic/ | title=Carl Franklin to Replace Director John Singleton on Tupac Biopic | last=Donnelly | first=Matt | work=[[TheWrap]] | date=April 7, 2015 | access-date=April 7, 2015}}</ref> Singleton also stated he was planning on making a competing film about Tupac.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/john-singleton-exits-tupac-biopic-plans-competing-film-20150409 |title=John Singleton Exits Tupac Biopic, Plans Competing Film |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 9, 2015 }}</ref>

The film was eventually released in 2017 as ''[[All Eyez on Me (film)|All Eyez on Me]]'', which was negatively received by critics and audiences and Singleton himself, who intended to make his own biopic about Shakur as well as a biopic about the rap group [[Three 6 Mafia]], who worked with Singleton on ''Hustle & Flow'', prior to his death in 2019.

===2017–2019: Transition to television and final years===
Following the release of the critically-panned action thriller film ''[[Abduction (2011 film)|Abduction]]'' (2011), Singleton spent the final years of his career focusing on television.

After directing episodes of the critically acclaimed TV shows ''Empire'' and ''American Crime Story'', in 2017, he served as an executive producer and director of the crime drama series ''[[Rebel (2017 TV series)|Rebel]]'' for BET, which focuses on Oakland police officer Rebecca "Rebel" Knight, who after her brother was killed by police, began working as a private investigator.

That same year, ''[[Snowfall (TV series)|Snowfall]]'', a crime drama series co-created and executively produced by Singleton for FX, premiered on July 5, 2017. Singleton co-wrote the screenplays for the first two episodes with series creators Eric Amadio and Dave Andron and directed the finales for the first two seasons. The series stars [[Damson Idris]] as Franklin Saint, a budding young drug dealer from [[South Central L.A.]], and it depicts how the community is affected by the 1980s [[Crack epidemic in the United States|crack epidemic]], and the CIA involvement in trafficking the drug.<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt Webb|last=Mitovich|url=http://tvline.com/2017/05/08/fx-snowfall-premiere-date-crack-epidemic/|title=FX Sets Premiere Date for Snowfall Drama, About Birth of Crack Epidemic|date=May 8, 2017|website=[[TVLine]]|location=Los Angeles, California|access-date=May 9, 2017|archive-date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509183932/http://tvline.com/2017/05/08/fx-snowfall-premiere-date-crack-epidemic/|url-status=dead}}</ref> This was one of the last projects Singleton worked on before his death in 2019.<ref name="Andscape">{{cite web |last1=Judge |first1=Monique |title=With 'Snowfall,' John Singleton's final gift to us was his greatest |url=https://andscape.com/features/john-singletons-snowfall-series-finale/ |website=Andscape |publisher=ESPN Enterprises, Inc. |access-date=23 April 2023 |date=21 April 2023}}</ref>

== Influences and themes==
Singleton cited filmmaker [[George Lucas]] and Lucas's [[Star Wars (film)|original ''Star Wars'' film]] as one of his strongest influences, as well as the works of filmmaker [[Steven Spielberg]] and playwright [[August Wilson]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Simpson |first=Janice C. |date=1992-03-23 |title=Not Just One of The Boyz: JOHN SINGLETON |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,975139-2,00.html |access-date=2024-10-13 |magazine=Time |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=John Singleton|series=The Hollywood Masters|date=March 15, 2018|time=3:00|network=[[Netflix]]|season=2|number=3}}</ref> Singleton was also influenced by his friend and fellow filmmaker [[Spike Lee]]. The two met in 1986, at a screening of Lee's film ''[[She's Gotta Have It]]'', two weeks before Singleton started attending the [[University of Southern California]] (USC).<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=6Q1GiRrHTCRBC2Ng&v=8rwaUbA8fs8&feature=youtu.be |title=John Singleton Interview Part 1 of 3 - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews |date=2017-07-03 |last=FoundationINTERVIEWS |access-date=2024-10-13 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

Singleton's films are coming of age tales mixed with an urban setting. The themes in his films ''Boyz N The Hood'', ''Poetic Justice'', and ''Baby Boy'' are black masculinity, trauma, violence in urban communities, economic struggles in the black community, and the impact of gang culture and crime on young black men.

== Personal life ==
Singleton was the father of seven children. With his wife, Tosha Lewis, he had his first son Justice Maya Singleton (born 1992), named after the lead character of the same name (played by Janet Jackson) in ''Poetic Justice'' and the poet [[Maya Angelou]] respectively.

Singleton has a son named Maasai Singleton (born April 3, 1996) and a daughter named Cleopatra "Cleo" Singleton (born September 6, 1998) with ex-girlfriend Vestria Barlow. On October 12, 1996, Singleton married Ghanaian actress [[Akosua Busia|Akosua Gyamama Busia]], the daughter of Ghana's second Prime Minister [[Kofi Abrefa Busia]]. The couple had a daughter<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://ew.com/article/1998/10/16/who-should-get-credit-beloved-screenplay/ |first=Daniel |last=Fierman |title=Brawl Over 'Beloved' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=October 16, 1998|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070324193856/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,285239,00.html|archive-date=24 March 2007}}</ref> named Hadar Busia-Singleton (born April 3, 1997), who appeared in ''[[Tears of the Sun]]'' (2003) and other films. Singleton and Busia divorced in June 1997. He had one daughter in 2010 with Mitzi Andrews, an actress/model and teacher based in Toronto, Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-02|title=Judge Grants John Singleton's Daughter A Monthly Allowance|url=https://madamenoire.com/1117126/cleopatra-singleton-john-singleton-allowance/|access-date=2021-04-28|website=MadameNoire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Justice Singleton|url=https://wrapwomen.thewrap.com/team/justice-singelton/|access-date=2021-04-28|website=WrapWomen|language=en-US}}</ref> He also had a son, Seven, with Rayvon Jones.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-10|title=John Singleton's Mom Seemingly Accuses His Girlfriend Rayvon Jones Of Not Doing Enough To Save His Life: No One Called 911|url=https://thejasminebrand.com/2019/08/10/john-singletons-mother-says-girlfriend-rayvon-jones-refused-to-save-his-life-no-one-called-me-no-one-called-911/|access-date=2021-04-28|website=theJasmineBRAND|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
In 1999, Singleton pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery charges after attacking an ex-girlfriend during a dispute over child visitation. He was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to make a film on [[domestic violence]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=1999-06-24|title=Director Ordered to Make Domestic Violence Film|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-24-me-49817-story.html|access-date=2022-12-27|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
On August 23, 2007, Singleton was involved in an automobile accident in which he struck a [[jaywalking]] pedestrian, Constance Russell, 57, of Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294534,00.html |title=Filmmaker John Singleton Involved in Fatal Car Accident in L.A. |work=Fox News |date=August 25, 2007 |access-date=October 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714164620/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294534,00.html |archive-date=July 14, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Staying on the scene until the police arrived, Singleton was not under the influence of alcohol or other substances, and was released after being questioned. Russell died later in the hospital. The case was turned over to the District Attorney, but no charges were ever filed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/25/singleton/index.html |title=Movie director Singleton kills pedestrian in accident |work=CNN|date=August 25, 2007 |access-date=October 8, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/biz/markets-festivals/singleton-released-after-questioning-1117970897/ |title=Singleton released after questioning |work=Variety |date=August 26, 2007 |access-date=October 8, 2010}}</ref>

On March 19, 2014, Singleton criticized popular studios for "refusing to let African-Americans direct black-themed films". Singleton told an audience of students at [[Loyola Marymount University]] "They ain't letting the black people tell the stories." He also added, "They want black people [to be] what they want them to be. And nobody is man enough to go and say that. They want black people to be who they want them to be, as opposed to what they are. The black films now—so-called black films now—they're great. They're great films. But they're just products. They're not moving the bar forward creatively. ...When you try to make it homogenized, when you try to make it appeal to everybody, then you don't have anything that's special."<ref>{{cite news|last=Appelo|first=Tim|title=John Singleton Says Studios 'Ain't Letting Black People Tell Stories,' Unveils Tupac Biopic Plans|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-singleton-says-studios-aint-690486|access-date=March 25, 2014|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 24, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Child|first=Ben|title=John Singleton accuses Hollywood of ignoring black directors|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/mar/25/hollywood-ignores-black-directors-says-john-singleton|access-date=March 25, 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=March 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rawden|first=Mack|title=John Singleton Slams So-Called Studio Liberals For Not Offering More Opportunities|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/John-Singleton-Slams-So-Called-Studio-Liberals-Offering-More-Minorities-Opportunities-42237.html|access-date=March 25, 2014|newspaper=Cinema Blend|date=March 24, 2014}}</ref>

== Death ==
On April 17, 2019, Singleton suffered a [[stroke]] and was placed under intensive care.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sara|last=Moniuszko|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/04/20/john-singleton-boyz-n-hood-director-suffers-stroke-family-says/3530023002/|title=Director John Singleton suffers stroke, Snoop Dogg and more stars send their support|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|location=McLean, Virginia|date=April 20, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2019}}</ref> He reportedly began to experience weakness in his legs after returning to the United States from a trip to [[Costa Rica]]. On April 25, it was reported that he was in a coma,<ref>{{cite news|last=Gonzales|first=Sandra|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/25/entertainment/john-singleton-coma/index.html|title=Director John Singleton in coma following major stroke|website=[[CNN]]|location=Atlanta, Georgia|date=April 25, 2019|access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> but his daughter stated otherwise.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Coyle | first1=Jake | last2=Italie | first2=Hillel | date=April 29, 2019 | title=John Singleton, maker of 'Boyz N the Hood,' dies at 51 | url=https://apnews.com/d3369ee7490e453cbb1648990dd6804c | website=APNews.com | access-date=April 30, 2019 | quote=Ward's filing said that Singleton was in a coma. But on Friday, Singleton's daughter Cleopatra Singleton, 19, filed a declaration disputing that account. She maintained that her father was not in a coma and that doctors did not "have a concrete diagnosis."}}</ref> On April 28, Singleton was removed from life support and he died at the age of 51 at [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramos |first1=Dino-Ray |title=John Singleton Dies: Trailblazing 'Boyz N The Hood' Filmmaker Was 51 |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/john-singleton-dead-boyz-n-the-hood-hustle-and-flow-poetic-justice-1202599684/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |location=Los Angeles, California|date=April 29, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Cynthia |last=Littleton |url=https://a.msn.com/r/2/AAAHT5u?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare |title='Boyz n the Hood' Director John Singleton Dies at 51 |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |location=Los Angeles, California |date=April 29, 2019 |via=[[MSN]] }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=John Singleton's Death Certificate Reveals Actual Date of Death by Stroke |url=https://www.tmz.com/2019/05/06/john-singleton-death-certificate-cause-death-stroke/ |website=TMZ |date=May 6, 2019|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>

Dozens of actors and musicians paid tribute to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/john-singleton-dead-hollywood-reacts-boyz-n-the-hood-director-death-1202604145/|title=John Singleton Remembered: Hollywood Reacts To Director's Death At 51|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=April 29, 2019|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=May 3, 2019}}</ref> American rapper and actor [[Ice Cube]], who worked with Singleton in ''Boyz n the Hood'' and ''Higher Learning'', said: "There are no words to express how sad I am to lose my brother, friend & mentor. He loved to bring the black experience to the world."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/04/john-singleton-tribute-ice-cube-janet-jackson/|title=Ice Cube, Janet Jackson, Q-Tip, More Pay Tribute to John Singleton|last=Burks|first=Tosten|date=April 29, 2019|website=Spin|access-date=May 3, 2019}}</ref>

A private funeral was held on May 6, 2019, in [[Los Angeles]], and Singleton was buried at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/john-singleton-mourned-private-funeral-8510415/|title=Ice Cube, Stevie Wonder, Ludacris and More Mourn Director John Singleton at Private Funeral|magazine=Billboard|date=May 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/dallas-fort-worth/ap-top-news/2019/05/06/ice-cube-others-mourn-director-singleton-at-private-funeral|title=Ice Cube, others mourn director Singleton at private funeral|website=Spectrum Local News|date=May 6, 2019}}</ref> The official cause of death was [[Stroke#Ischemic|acute ischemic stroke]], [[intracerebral hemorrhage]], and [[hypertension]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://popculture.com/celebrity/2019/05/07/john-singleton-cause-of-death-confirmed/|title=John Singleton Cause of Death Confirmed|first=Libby|last=Birk|work=Pop Culture Media|publisher=[[Entertainment Tonight]]/[[TV Guide Network]]|location=[[Brentwood, Tennessee]]|agency=[[TMZ]]|date=May 7, 2019|access-date=May 11, 2019}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! width="65"| [[Film director|Director]]
! width="65"| [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! width="65"| [[Film producer|Producer]]
! width="65" | Executive soundtrack producer
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Boyz n the Hood]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Poetic Justice (film)|Poetic Justice]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Higher Learning]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Rosewood (film)|Rosewood]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Shaft (2000 film)|Shaft]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Baby Boy (film)|Baby Boy]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2003
| ''[[2 Fast 2 Furious]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Four Brothers (film)|Four Brothers]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Abduction (2011 film)|Abduction]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
|}

{| style="width:100%;"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| width="50%" |
'''Producer only'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Notes
|-
|2005
|''[[Hustle & Flow]]''
|
|-
|2006
|''[[Black Snake Moan (film)|Black Snake Moan]]''
|
|-
|2007
|''[[Illegal Tender (film)|Illegal Tender]]''
|Also music supervisor
|-
|2008
|''The Making of 'Illegal Tender'''
|Documentary short
|-
|}

| width="50%" |
'''Executive producer'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Notes
|-
|1998
|''[[Woo (film)|Woo]]''
|
|-
|2004
|''Time Out'' 
|Short film
|-
|2014
|''[[Through a Lens Darkly]]''
|Documentary
|-
|}
| width="50%" |
|}

'''Acting roles'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1991
|''[[Boyz n the Hood]]''
|Mailman
|
|-
|1994
|''[[Beverly Hills Cop III]]''
|Fireman
|
|-
|1995
|''[[Your Studio and You]]''
|Himself 
|rowspan=3|Uncredited
|-
|2000
|''[[Shaft (2000 film)|Shaft]]''
|Bored Cop with Tea Cup 
|-
|2001
|''[[Baby Boy (film)|Baby Boy]]''
|Man Selling Bootleg Movies 
|-
|2003
|''[[Baadasssss!]]''
|Detroit J
|
|}

'''Other credits'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Credit
|-
|2002
|''sIDney''
|Mentor to the director
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!width="65"|Director
!width="65"|Executive<br />Producer
!width="65"|Writer
!Notes
|-
|2009
|''[[81st Academy Awards]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|Segment: <nowiki>''</nowiki>The Biggest Movie Event of the Year"
|-
|2010
|''[[30 for 30]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|Episode "Marion Jones: Press Pause"
|-
|2015
|''[[Empire (2015 TV series)|Empire]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|Episode "Dangerous Bonds"
|-
|2016
|''[[American Crime Story]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|Episode "The Race Card"
|-
| rowspan="3" |2017
|''L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Documentary film
|-
|''[[Rebel (2017 TV series)|Rebel]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Director (episode "Pilot");<br />Executive producer (3 episodes)
|-
|''[[Billions (TV series)|Billions]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|Episode "Victory Lap"
|-
|2017–19
|''[[Snowfall (TV series)|Snowfall]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-creator;<br />Director (2 episodes); Writer (2 episodes)
|}

'''Acting roles'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|2013
|''[[The Game (2006 TV series)|The Game]]''
|rowspan=2|Himself
|2 episodes
|-
|2014
|''[[Real Husbands of Hollywood]]''
|2 episodes
|}

'''Other credits'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
|-
|1986
|''[[Pee-wee's Playhouse]]''
|rowspan=2|Production Assistant
|-
|1988
|''Beach Boys: Endless Summer''
|}

=== Music videos ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Year
! Title
! Artist
! Role
|-
| 1992
| "[[Remember the Time]]"
| [[Michael Jackson]]
| Director
|-
| 2003
| "[[Act a Fool (Ludacris song)|Act a Fool]]"
| [[Ludacris]]
| Himself
|-
|}

==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Title
! Result
|-
|rowspan=2|1991
|rowspan=2|[[Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|rowspan=2|''[[Boyz n the Hood]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2016
|rowspan=2|[[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series]]
| ''[[The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story]]''<br><small>(For episode "The Race Card")</small>
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2017
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special|Outstanding Documentary]]
| ''L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later''
| {{nom}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Youngest nominees|List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees — Youngest nominees for Best Director]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book|last=Barboza|first=Craigh|title=John Singleton: Interviews|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nrTB2Uf7kEIC|access-date=April 24, 2011|date=January 2009|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-60473-116-3}}
*Carr, Joi (March 2018) [https://books.google.com/books?id=JuE4swEACAAJ&q=boyz+n+the+hood ''Boyz n the hood: shifting Hollywood terrain''.]  Peter Lang Publishing, Inc. {{ISBN|9781433146374}}
*[https://thecinemaholic.com/is-boyz-n-the-hood-a-true-story/ ''The Real Boyz N The Hood - John D. Singleton (Tre), Michael Winters (Doughboy) and Roman J. Artiste (Ricky)''.]*

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.johnsingletonfilms.com/The Films of John Singleton]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, a critical fan site endorsed by Singleton.
*{{IMDb name}}
*{{The Interviews name}}

{{John Singleton}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for John Singleton
|list1 =
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Limited Series}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best New Filmmaker}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best New Director}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singleton, John}}
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[[Category:African-American film producers]]
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