Samuel Monroe Jr., the actor known for his work in Menace II Society and other 1990s films, remains hospitalized in Los Angeles as his family faces a difficult medical update.
His wife, Shawna Stewart, told TMZ that Monroe is still on life support and that a recent CT scan showed he is suffering from encephalopathy. Stewart said his brain tissue is deteriorating after a series of severe health complications.
Stewart also said she is Monroe’s power of attorney and has to consider his quality of life. She made clear that no decision has been made about what comes next.
His Wife Says the Family Is Still Hoping
Stewart told TMZ that Monroe’s immune system is so weak that he is being treated in a negative pressure room. She said he is currently on six antibiotics as doctors continue treating the infections and complications that have kept him critically ill.
The update comes with small signs that have been difficult for the family to read. Stewart said Monroe has opened his eyes a few times recently, though she believes the movements may have been reflexes connected to pain when he is moved.
She described her husband as a fighter and said she is still praying for his recovery.
The Medical Crisis Has Been Building for Months
Monroe’s current hospitalization follows a long battle with meningitis.
In April, People reported that Stewart said Monroe contracted meningitis roughly 18 months earlier while working in Las Vegas. She said the illness went untreated for months after repeated misdiagnoses.
Stewart said at the time that by the point doctors properly diagnosed him, the infection had spread to his brain and spine.
TMZ later reported that Monroe’s condition worsened further after doctors diagnosed him with MRSA pneumonia in addition to meningitis. The outlet also reported that he had needed blood transfusions and dialysis during the health crisis.
The Family Has Asked for Financial Help
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Monroe’s family launched a GoFundMe in late April to help cover medical costs and support his children during the crisis.
The fundraiser said the financial strain had been heavy after months of hospitalizations, rehabilitation centers, and continuing care needs. The Los Angeles Times reported that the fundraiser said Monroe could require around-the-clock care if he regains consciousness and is removed from life support.
The family has also said it hopes to move him into more specialized care or arrange in-home medical support if his condition improves enough for that step.
Monroe Built a Career in 1990s Film and Television
Monroe is best known to many viewers for playing Ilena’s cousin in the 1993 film Menace II Society.
He also appeared in Tales from the Hood, Set It Off, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, and The Players Club.
His television credits include Out All Night, NYPD Blue, Southland, and Black Jesus. For fans of 1990s Black cinema, his name is tied to a run of films that became lasting references in American pop culture.
No Final Decision Has Been Made
The new report does not describe a final medical decision.
Stewart told TMZ she is weighing Monroe’s quality of life while still praying for his recovery. The same update said Monroe remains on life support as doctors continue treating the infections and complications affecting him.
For now, the current status is narrow and serious: Monroe remains hospitalized in Los Angeles, his wife says a recent CT scan showed encephalopathy, and his family has not made a final decision about what comes next.