Samuel Monroe Jr., a veteran Hollywood character actor and star of Menace II Society, has died. 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. But today God called him home. Please honor my final request to pray for the family, especially his 3 children,” Joyce Patton, Monroe’s mother, said in a Facebook post early on Thursday morning.

Tayonna Stewart, daughter of Shawna Stewart, Monroe’s partner, in a Go Fund Me page that asked for donations to help offset steep medical care costs mentioned the actor had been battling severe meningitis and had been on life support for months as he received round-the-clock care.

That led to mounting health complications for Monroe Jr., including serious pneumonia due to a lung infection. “The emotional and financial strain on his family has been immense, over the last nine months with Samuel being in multiple hospitals and two rehabilitation centers,” the fundraising page stated.

In the days before his death, Patton filed for court-directed conservatorship to allow her to make final decisions around his life, according to TMZ. Professor Rel Dowdell, director of film studies at Hampton University, paid tribute to the veteran actor for standout roles in Black cinema classics.

“Samuel Monroe Jr. was an unusually gifted character actor who truly mastered the authenticity and depth of urban characters in hit films like Menace II Society, Set It Off, Tales from the Hood and many others. There was never a modicum of doubt that whatever character he played on the screen was going to be indelible,” Dowdell said.

Born on Nov. 28, 1973 in Los Angeles, Monroe Jr.’s first acting role was in Patti LaBelle’s series Out All Night, and he had additional TV roles in The Lion’s Den and The Steve Harvey Show. His breakout film role came with New Line’s 1993 crime drama Menace II Society where he played Ilena’s cousin. The film was shot around the time of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

As a stalwart in Black movies, Monroe Jr. also played Lorenz in Set It Off, appearing opposite Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah and Vivica A. Fox, Bulldog in Tales From the Hood and Sam in the buddy comedy Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.

He had other TV credits, often in supporting roles, including NYPD Blue, Murder One, Smart Guy and Southland.

EXCLUSIVE: Grammy-winning musician and actor Jon Batiste is inviting audiences on a spectacular journey through natural wonders of a part of the country he knows very well, “the vast network of wetlands spanning Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and the Carolinas.”

MacGillivray Freeman Films announced Thursday that New Orleans-area native Batiste will narrate and serve as executive producer on American Amazon, a documentary set to premiere November 13 in select IMAX and giant screen theaters and museums. It will debut as a two-part miniseries on PBS’ Nature in early 2027.

Batiste not only narrates but appears on screen in American Amazon, which hails from Grizzly Creek Films and The WNET Group’s Nature. We have your exclusive look at the trailer below, which features stunning photography of the wetlands that deserve to be known, as the film suggests, as the American Amazon.

A release notes that terrain qualifies as “one of North America’s least explored and biologically rich regions… Batiste brings a powerful emotional resonance to this immersive journey, elevating the film’s celebration of nature, culture, and human connection to the ecosystem.”

Batiste, an 8-time Grammy winner, commented, “I love introducing people to the swamp. Growing up in Louisiana, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the landscapes, culture, and spirit of my home. I think the South is sacred soil. American Amazon reveals the wild side that many people have never seen. It’s a world of extraordinary beauty, mystery, and life – hiding right in our own backyard. We’re celebrating the power of nature, creativity, and human connection – and this is just the beginning!”

Eric Bendick of Grizzly Creek Films wrote, directed, and co-produced the documentary. “Jon Batiste brings the American Amazon to life,” the filmmaker observed. “His creativity, passion, and energy invite us to fall in love with this wild and mysterious place that is truly the world’s best kept secret. His voice is a perfect match for all the drama and soul-stirring beauty of this landscape, allowing audiences to connect with the untamed spirit of the wild South.”

Co-producer Thomas Winston of Grizzly Creek Films noted, “Jon’s ability to move between joy, wonder, and reflection makes him an ideal narrator for this story. He brings a unique perspective that amplifies the film’s message of appreciation and stewardship. American Amazon marks an exciting new chapter in our ongoing collaboration with Jon—and there’s more to come.”

The documentary, shot over the course of four years, reveals an ancient and mysterious landscape defined by towering two-thousand-year-old cypress trees, labyrinthine flooded forests, a network of wild rivers, and an astonishing array of wildlife, according to the release. “From the mass migration of swallow-tailed kites—the world’s only social raptor—to the elusive behaviors of American black bears in the swamp, the film uncovers a world teeming with life, discovery, and enduring surprises.”

“American Amazon shines a light on one of the most ecologically important and least understood regions in North America,” said Fred Kaufman, executive producer of Nature. “Jon brings a rare authenticity to this story. His voice captures not only the wonder of the natural world, but also the deep cultural connection between the people, places, and wildlife that make the American South so extraordinary.”

MacGillivray Freeman Films is recognized as the world’s leading independent producer and distributor of giant screen films. Its many productions include Superhuman Body (2024), Ireland (2022), Out Where the West Begins (2021), America’s Musical Journey (2018), National Parks Adventure (2016), and Journey to the South Pacific (2013).

“Having worked with Jon previously on our giant screen film America’s Musical Journey, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible artistry and range he brings to every project,” said Shaun MacGillivray, president of MacGillivray Freeman Films. “He is an extraordinary talent, and his ability to connect with audiences through music and storytelling makes him the perfect voice for American Amazon.”

Watch the trailer for American Amazon here: