Popular 90s Actor May End Up in 'Vegetative' State

Things aren’t looking too good for Sam Monroe Jr. The actor, who starred in a string of popular 90s films including Menace II Society and The Players Club, has been on life support in a Los Angeles hospital since April, and his prognosis remains grim.

TMZ reports Monroe Jr. is in a medically induced coma. He was initially hospitalized for a severe case of meningitis, which progressed into MRSA pneumonia. His family says doctors have revealed that any chance of recovery is slim. 

His wife, Shawna Stewart, has kept the public updated on his medical care. She says her husband’s brain continues to swell because ventricles have enlarged; they’re not holding the cerebral fluid, which is resulting in seizures. Thus far, he’s undergone three brain surgeries, but nothing is working.

Additionally, Stewart says Monroe Jr.’s left lung has partially collapsed. Doctors are monitoring his brain activity via CT scans, but Stewart says doctors believe Monroe Jr. may end up in a vegetative state. While the family is holding out hope and praying for a miracle, they are forced to make tough decisions, one of which may include taking their beloved family member off life support.

According to The Brain Foundation, A vegetative state is “when a person is awake but showing no signs of awareness, typically occurring when in recovery from a coma.”

Stewart launched a GoFundMe in April. Thus far, nearly $9k out of the requested $ 50k has been raised to assist in his medical bills. The GoFundMe reads, in part: “SAMUEL’s mother Joyce and his wife, Shawna, siblings, and some of SAMUEL‘s good friends have spent months traveling back-and-forth to hospitals, Rehabilitation Center for over more than nine months. In the event of Samuel regains consciousness and is removed from life support. Samuel will require round-the-clock care for a year or more the doctors are saying.”

Monroe Jr., 52, is a Los Angeles native and also had a music career. Other film credits include Set It Off and Tales From the Hood.