Samuel Monroe Jr., an actor known for his role in the 1993 film "Menace II Society," died Wednesday at the age of 52. His death followed a months-long battle with severe health issues, including meningitis, kidney failure, and a lung infection.
Monroe Jr. had been on life support since April. His mother, Joyce Patton, announced his passing on Facebook, stating, "today God called him home," and requested prayers for the family, particularly his three children. She confirmed to TMZ that he died at a hospital around 10:24 PM on Wednesday.
The actor was hospitalized in April after contracting meningitis, which eventually spread to his spine and brain. Due to kidney complications, he was placed on dialysis. He also developed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia. His wife, Shawna Stewart, told TMZ that doctors had initiated a new antibiotic regimen to combat the MRSA infection.
Monroe Jr. is remembered for his role as Ilena's cousin in "Menace II Society," a film that also featured Samuel L. Jackson, Tyrin Turner, and Jada Pinkett Smith. His other acting credits include "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood," "Set It Off," "Out All Night," and "NYPD Blue." More recently, he worked as a director, writer, and producer, including on the TV series "The Halls."
Stewart had previously shared that Monroe Jr. contracted meningitis about 18 months prior while filming in Las Vegas. She indicated that misdiagnoses at several hospitals allowed the infection to go untreated for eight months before it was identified.
His family established a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical expenses, aiming to provide support for his children, Kingston and Brooklynn.