Police Confirm Shonka Dukureh, Singer and ‘Elvis’ Actress, Dies at 44
One of the stars of the movie “Elvis” was discovered unresponsive in her bedroom by one of her children.
Warner Bros. Pictures
The actor and singer who played Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann's “Elvis”, Shonka Dukureh, has died, according to police. Dukureh, 44, was discovered in the bedroom of her apartment in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday, where she lived with her 2 young children. A tweet from Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed the death and said there was no foul play involved. According to The Tennessean, Dukureh was found unresponsive by one of her children, who rushed to a neighbor's apartment for help. The neighbor called 911 at 9:27 a.m., police told the publication. The cause of death is unknown and will be investigated by the medical examiner.
BREAKING: No foul play is evident in today's death of actress Shonka Dukureh, 44, who portrayed Big Mama Thornton in this year's Elvis movie. Dukureh, a Fisk Univ graduate, was found dead in the bedroom of her Kothe Way apt that she shared with her 2 young children.
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) July 21, 2022
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