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). Youngest person ever to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Director (at 24). Started Ice Cube's acting career; on the "Queen Latifah Show" (1999), Ice Cube stated that John Singleton screen-tested him to see if he could act. 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 Cleopatra. He was also placed on three years' probation, fined $300, and ordered to undergo a year of domestic violence counseling. (22 June 1999). A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Crossed Spring 1987 at Beta Omega Chapter (USC, Pepperdine, LMU). Graduated from Blair High School in Pasadena, California, in 1986. Taught an Advanced Directing Class at USC. (Spring 1997) Director of music videos, his most famous one was Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" that included Magic Johnson and Eddie Murphy. Shares his birthday with Rowan Atkinson, Jenna Z. Wilson, and Gabrielle Reece. While in high school, Singleton learned "that the film business was controlled by screenplays." After graduating from high school in 1986, Singleton was accepted to the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television's prestigious Film Writing Program. During his four-year studies there, he won three writing awards. These achievements in writing earned Singleton a contract with the powerful Creative Artists Agency during his sophomore year at USC. Columbia wanted to make the picture, but at first wanted someone else to direct it. Singleton believed only he could do it, and did. First African-American to be nominated for an Oscar® in the Best Picture category (Boyz n the Hood 1991.