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Samuel Monroe Jr., an actor who appeared in Menace II Society, has died at age 52 following a severe battle with meningitis.
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Samuel Monroe Jr.’s loved ones are mourning his loss.
The actor—who appeared in 1993’s Menace II Society, among other roles—died following a battle with meningitis, his mother Joyce Patton shared on Aug. 27. He was 52.
“I want to thank all of my facebook family and friends new and old for praying for Samuel Monroe, Jr., my son,” she began her post to social media. “But today God called him home. Please honor my final request to pray for the family especially his 3 children.”
According to TMZ, Monroe shared three children with Shawna Stewart, who also gave insight into his final hours.
“Two hours the doctors and have [sic] ICU tried their best, but God took you home,” she wrote on her Aug. 27 Instagram Story. “I fought till the end. I held your hand till you took your last breath.”
Monroe’s mother also shared insight into his deteriorating health, writing on Facebook hours before confirming her son’s death, “Sam is having a procedure please pray now. Not looking good, please pray.”
Monroe, per multiple outlets, was hospitalized back in April for meningitis, with the infection eventually spreading to his brain and spine leading to MRSA pneumonia and kidney issues.
While Page Six reported his health temporarily improved in May, his health once again took a turn in July and he experienced back-to-back seizures and had to undergo multiple brain surgeries. Earlier in August, per the outlet, he was placed on life support in a medically induced coma before passing away.
Samuel Monroe Jr. / Instagram
E! News has attempted to contact medical personnel or reps for Monroe for additional comment.
Monroe began his onscreen career in the NBC series Out All Night, appearing in two episodes across 1992 and 1993.
While his role as Ilena’s Cousin in Menace II Society was perhaps his most well-known work, throughout his career Monroe also appeared in 1995’s Tales from the Hood, 1996’s Set It Off and 1998’s The Players Club, in addition to roles through 2023.
Following his death, Monroe’s cousin Doug Brown expressed his grief over the actor’s tragic end.
“Rest in peace cuzzo,” Brown wrote on social media. “You fought a good fight bro. Just know your [sic] a legend. From acting to rapping. You left ya mark family.”
He added, “To my aunt Joyce Patton. We send our deepest condolences.Try to stay strong and find peace knowing he is no longer suffering. Gonna miss you big time cuzzo.”
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