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'A giant among us': celebrities remember director John Singleton

Writer and director John Singleton, who has died at the age of 51, made an indelible mark on the industry, beginning in 1991 with his debut film, Boyz N the Hood.

Actors, musicians, athletes and more took to social media to remember the trailblazing filmmaker

Jesse Kinos-Goodin · CBC Radio ·
Trailblazing writer and director John Singleton has died at the age of 51. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

Writer and director John Singleton, who has died at the age of 51, made an indelible mark on the industry, beginning in 1991 with his debut film, Boyz N the Hood.

On the news of his passing, artists took to social media to express their condolences and to share personal stories about him, his work, and the impact he had on their lives.

"I was discovered by a master filmmaker," wrote Ice Cube, whose first acting role was in Boyz N the Hood. "He not only made me a movie star but made me a filmmaker. There are no words to express how sad I am to lose my brother, friend & mentor. He loved bring the black experience to the world."

For many black actors, Singleton offered them their first shot at working in Hollywood.

"YOU saw in me what I did not see in myself," wrote Taraji P. Henson, whose first major film role was in Singleton's 2001 drama Baby Boy. "You touched and changed so many lives!"

"Thank you GOD for blessing us with this gift better known as John Singleton," wrote Oscar winner Regina King, whose first film role was also in Boyz N the Hood. 

"He pushed me into acting and gave me my first role," wrote Q-Tip, who played a small but key role in the 1993 film Poetic Justice. "Always was in my corner."

"You gave me my first movie role, my first Oscar nomination and so much more," wrote Janet Jackson, who starred in Poetic Justice alongside Tupac Shakur. "Thank you for all you have given to the world through your work and all you have done for Black culture, women and young filmmakers."

One of those young filmmakers was another recent Oscar winner, Spike Lee, who met Singleton when he was a film student at the University of Southern California. "Over many years people have told me, 'I'm going to be a filmmaker,'" wrote Lee on his Instagram page. "When John said that to me the 1st time we met, I believed him right away. […] With his passion, his heart, the way he talked about his love for cinema and black folks I could see John would make it happen."

"In all of his movies, he brought a political statement," Canadian filmmaker Director X told q's Tom Power. "He always managed to say something about the world in his work. He could do the popcorn cinema stuff, but the work we all really remember him for is that work where he commented on the world and opened people's eyes."

Other prominent directors also took to Twitter to express their remorse while reflecting on Singleton's groundbreaking career.

"John was a brave artist and a true inspiration," wrote Jordan Peele. "His vision changed everything."

"There aren't many of us out here doing this. It's a small tribe in the grand scheme of things," wrote Ava DuVarney. "He was a giant among us."

Samuel L. Jackson, who starred in Singleton's 2000 Shaft remake, called him a "collaborator and true friend," noting how he "blazed the trail for many young filmmakers, always remaining true to who he was & where he came from."

Singleton's influence spread far and wide over his more than 25 year career, beyond even Hollywood. Below, actors, athletes, musicians, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, poet Maya Angelou and more all express the impact that the trailblazing filmmaker had on them.

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