Oscar-nominated HolOscar-nominated Hol lywood director John Singleton has died after suffering a stroke. He was 51.The versatile director, who made a splash with Boyz n the Hood and went on to a variety of projects including 2 Fast 2 Furious, had been in a coma since the stroke on April 17. He died on Monday, his family told CNN in a statement.‘John passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends. We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all of John’s fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time,’ the family said.In 1992 at the age of 24, Singleton became the youngest person to ever receive an Oscar nomination for best director for Boyz n the Hood, a film based on his experiences growing up in South Central Los Angeles. He also was the first African-American to be nominated in that category.He wrote the screenplay while attending the cinema school at University of Southern California (USC), winning various awards while a student that lead to his signing with Creative Artists Agency, the powerful talent agency.Director John Singleton’s death at 51 has left Hollywood mourning the loss of a director who was kind, trailblazing and brave.Film bodies and Singleton’s friends and colleagues took to social media to pay him a heartfelt tribute. Here’s what they wrote:The Academy: The youngest-ever Best Director nominee and an inspiration to us all. John Singleton, you will be greatly missed.Samuel L. Jackson: Mourning the loss of a collaborator and true friend John Singleton. He blazed the trail for many young filmmakers, always remaining true to who he was and where he came from! RIP Brother. Gone way too soon. John Carpenter: John Singleton was a talented director and a kind man. He died too young. He will be missed.Ron Howard: Sad sad news. Such a good director and so well regarded everywhere he went. We will miss his work and his storytelling voice. RIP John Singleton.Ava DuVernay: There aren’t many of us out here doing this. It’s a small tribe in the grand scheme of things. He was a giant among us. Kind. Committed. And immensely talented. His films broke ground. (IANS)