Actress and singer Shonka Dukureh, who starred in the biopic Elvis, has died at the age of 44. She played Big Mama Thornton in the film about superstar Elvis Presley and was found dead in a bedroom at her home in Nashville.
It was one of her children who found her unresponsive and went to the apartment of a neighbour, who called emergency services. There were no signs of foul play following the death of the singer, who shared the apartment with her two young children, police said.
Post-mortem results are pending from the medical examiner. Director Baz Luhrmann has said he felt “truly blessed” to have had time with Shonka. After hearing the news, Luhrmann shared a series of pictures which included an image of him kissing Dukureh on the forehead while on the set of Elvis.
