Director John Singleton in a coma following a major stroke

The director John Singleton is in a coma following a major stroke.

Singleton, who is 51, fell ill after a trip to Costa Rica last week, and then suffered a stroke while under medical care, with initial reports suggesting that it was mild.

However, according to legal documents seen by US site The Blast, Singleton’s mother Sheila Ward has now applied to be his conservator.

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In the documents, Singleton’s stroke is described as ‘ a major impairment to motor skills and psychological functions, including his ability to reason logically’.

It goes on to say that he is ‘unable to provide for his personal needs’, with his mother requesting permission to ‘make medical decisions’ for him.

Spike Lee and Snoop Dogg are among those who have sent prayers for the director.

Singleton made his breakthrough at 23 with his debut movie Boyz n the Hood, starring Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr, and Laurence Fishburne, using his experiences growing up in South Central Los Angeles.

The film earned him an Oscar nomination.

He went on to make movies including the 2000 remake of Shaft, with Samuel L. Jackson and the second movie in the Fast and Furious series, 2 Fast 2 Furious.