Shonka Dukureh, an actor and blues singer who played Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic “Elvis,” died Thursday in Tennessee, police confirmed. She was 44 years old.
The musician was found dead inside his bedroom in the Nashville apartment he shared with his two sons, according to a tweet from the Metro Nashville Police Department, on New York Post reports
Stream more entertainment news live and on demand with Flash. More than 25 news channels in one place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. The offer ends on October 31, 2022 >
The Tennessee reported that one of Dukureh’s sons found her unresponsive before rushing to a neighbor’s house, who then called emergency services at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time.
A spokesperson for the MNPD confirmed that the medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death. No foul play is suspected.
A representative for Dukureh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The mother of two is best known for playing the iconic role of Big Mama Thornton in “Elvis,” which follows the life of the late Elvis Presley. The film, which opened on June 24, was Dukureh’s first and only film credit, according to IMDB.
Dukureh proudly reflected on his role in the film and had the opportunity to sing Presley’s hit song “Hound Dog” via Instagram before his death.
“Thankfulness is where I live because [sic] my grandmother, gemma, mother, family modeled it and instilled it in me,” she wrote on July 13. “It’s not a crumb-scraping pose, but recognizing that good things don’t they are a guarantee and when we find them gratitude, gratitude is the least we can express.”
This story was published by the New York Post and reproduced with permission.