Menace II Society actor Samuel Monroe Jr. placed on dialysis amid kidney problems as he fights for life in hospital

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Samuel Monroe Jr., known for his role in the film Menace II Society, is receiving dialysis for serious kidney problems while he continues to be hospitalized in Southern California.

Doctors have diagnosed the 52-year-old actor with kidney failure, and he is currently on life support, according to his wife, Shawna Stewart, who spoke with TMZ on Thursday.

This unfortunate news arrived only two days after Stewart revealed on Tuesday that Monroe had recently received a diagnosis of pneumonia caused by MRSA, a dangerous type of staph infection.

Doctors have started Stewart on a new antibiotic, and now his family is hoping it will work. They’re waiting to see if the treatment helps him fight the infection.

According to Healthline, people with MRSA pneumonia – a type of lung infection often caught in hospitals – can develop inflamed lungs that fill with fluid or pus, leading to trouble breathing.

Larenz Tate is most famous for playing a key role in the 1993 film Menace II Society, alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Tyrin Turner, and Jada Pinkett Smith. He’s also appeared in movies like Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood and Set It Off, as well as the TV show NYPD Blue and the film Out All Night.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Stewart for comment. 

As a lifestyle expert focused on wellness, I want to share that MRSA pneumonia is a serious concern because it doesn’t respond to many common antibiotics. This makes it really challenging for doctors to treat and requires a very specific approach to get someone back on their feet.

If MRSA pneumonia isn’t treated promptly, it can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body’s response to infection harms its own tissues. Sepsis can then escalate to septic shock, causing dangerously low blood pressure and potentially organ failure.

Marcia Monroe is married to Stewart, who works in tech and does voiceover work. They have two children: Kingston, age 12, and Brooklynn, age 11.

Monroe’s mother, Joyce Patton, shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, praying for her son, Sam. She wrote that while she believes everything happens for a reason, she’s humbly asking for God’s compassion and kindness for him, expressing her deep love with the words, ‘I love you to the moon and back, a hundred times over.’

Samuel’s family has started a GoFundMe to help cover his medical expenses. The fundraising page explains that even a small donation will help support his family and ensure his children, Kingston and Brooklynn, are cared for while he recovers.

The crowdfunding page also shared that the actor has had two brain surgeries and is currently on life support.

I was so saddened to hear about Samuel’s health struggles. I learned from a recent interview with Stewart that about a year and a half ago, while filming in Las Vegas, Samuel unfortunately came down with meningitis and ended up needing life support. It’s just heartbreaking to think about what he’s been through.

He visited multiple hospitals, but doctors repeatedly misdiagnosed his illness. As a result of this oversight, his meningitis went untreated for eight months.

She explained that when doctors finally determined what the infection was, it had already spread to both his spine and brain.

In a statement to Complex, Stewart asked for continued prayers for Samuel, who is currently on life support and battling meningitis. The family appreciates everyone’s support during this difficult time.

He’s recently taken on the roles of director, writer, and producer, even creating his own TV series called ‘The Halls.’ The show focuses on the experiences of children entering the juvenile justice system.

In the film Menace II Society, Larenz Tate played the cousin of Erin Leshawn Wiley’s character, Ilena. Ilena becomes pregnant by the film’s protagonist, Kaydee ‘Caine’ Lawson (played by Tyrin Turner), who then violently attacks Tate’s character.

Ilena’s cousin retaliates by driving past Caine and his friends, shooting at them, and tragically killing Caine before the movie ends.

Monroe Jr.’s latest role was as Zero in 2022 television film Shine Kings.

He played the lead role of The Intruder in the 2021 film Lockdown 2025, a story about a virus outbreak that causes a country-wide lockdown and the implementation of martial law.

Monroe Jr. also pursued a career as a rapper, collaborating with well-known producers like Battlecat and Duane Nettlesby to create his music.

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2026-05-01 01:36