John Singleton, Director of 'Boyz N the Hood', dies at 51.

Photo: Getty

Filmmaker John Singleton, who debuted with the Oscar-nominated 'Boyz N the Hood' in 1991 and continued making movies that probed the lives of black communities in his native Los Angeles and beyond, has died. He was 51.

The director John Singleton. When his debut film, “Boyz N the Hood” (1991), was nominated for an Academy Award, he became the first African-American nominee in that category, as well as the youngest. Photo: Aaron Rapoport

Singleton — a director, screenwriter, and producer — is best known for helming such films as 'Boyz n the Hood,' 'Poectic Justice', 'Baby Boy', '2 Fast 2 Furious' and the remake of 'Shaft.' He is the co-and creator of the FX drama series 'Snowfall.'

Singleton's family said Monday that he died after being taken off life support, about two weeks after he suffered a major stroke.

"This was an agonizing decision, one that our family made, over a number of days, with the careful counsel of John's doctors," the family said in a statement Monday.

"We are grateful to his fans, friends and colleagues for the outpour of love and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We want to thank all the doctors at Cedars Sinai for the impeccable care he received."

Singleton, 51, suffered a stroke while at the Los Angeles hospital on April 17, his family said in an earlier statement. He had been in a coma since, according to a conservatorship court filing on Friday.

FROM THE WEB