51-Year-Old Director John Singleton's Family Is Taking Him Off Life Support

Update 4/29/19- 4:35 p.m. EST: A Singleton family rep confirmed to TMZ that the director died "peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends" on Monday.

Original Story:

Director John Singleton's family has revealed they will be taking the 51-year-old off of life support following a stroke that occurred April 17.

“This was an agonizing decision, one that our family made, over a number of days, with the careful counsel of John’s doctors,” Singleton's family said in a statement. “We are grateful to his fans, friends and colleagues for the outpour of love and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”

The filmmaker directed popular films including "Boyz N The Hood," "Poetic Justice," and "Shaft." In 1991, he was nominated for the best director Oscar for "Boyz N the Hood."

Acclaimed Hollywood writers such as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" creator Shonda Rhimes have already paid tribute to Singleton.

Rhimes posted a story about him on Friday, posting about how he reached out to her while she was still in film school years ago.

"John did not know me at all," she said. "But someone at USC had told him I was talented and he was kindly calling to offer me some words of encouragement. He told me to keep writing. I never forgot it. Praying for him and for his family now."