Son of mortgage broker Danny Singleton and pharmaceutical company sales executive Sheila Ward and raised in separate households by his unmarried parents, John Singleton attended the Filmic Writing Program at USC after graduating from high school in 1986. While studying there, he won three writing awards from the university, which lead to a contract with Creative Artists Agency during his sophomore year. Columbia Pictures bought his script for Boyz n the Hood and budgeted it at $7 million. Singleton notes that much of the story comes from his own experiences in South Central LA and credits his parents with keeping him off the street. His subsequent films have not been as well-received by audiences or critics as his first effort.
Graduated from USC School of Cinema-Television (1990) Daughter, Hadar, (b. 4/3/1997) Youngest person ever to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Director (at 24). Loves to collect and read comic books. Started Ice Cube's acting career; on the Queen Latifah Show, Ice Cube stated that John Singleton screen-tested him to see if he could act. Dated model Tyra Banks. Sentenced to make a short film about domestic violence after pleading no contest to charges he assaulted the mother of his 6 year-old daughter. He was also placed on three years' probation, fined $300 and ordered to undergo a year of domestic violence counseling. (22 June 1999) Has a daughter named Cleopatra who appeared in _Baby Boy_ . A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Crossed Spring 1987 at Beta Omega Chapter (USC, Pepperdine, LMU). His 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood, made its way onto the prestigious National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Graduated from Blair High School in Pasadena, California in 1986. Met Lawrence Fishburne when he was a PA on "Pee-Wee's Playhouse." Lawrence played Cowboy Curtis. Taught an Advanced Directing Class at USC. (Spring 1997) Favorite films include Raging Bull, Bicycle Thief, Jaws, 400 Blows, and A Clockwork Orange. Director of music videos, his most famous one was Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" that included Magic Johnson and Eddie Murphy. A huge fan of Westerns. In fact many of the shots in his films are influenced by the genre. Shares his birthday with Rowan Atkinson, Jenna Z. Wilson, and Gabrielle Reece.