Shonka Dukureh, who performed Large Mama Thornton in ‘Elvis’, lifeless at 44

Shonka Dukureh, an actress and musician who portrayed R&B singer Willie Mae “Large Mama” Thornton on this 12 months’s Elvis biopic, has died on the age of 44.

Dukureh was discovered lifeless by police on Thursday (July 21) in her dwelling in Nashville, after one in every of her two younger youngsters discovered her unresponsive and sought assist from a neighbour, who known as 911. In accordance with police, there isn't any proof of foul play. No reason for dying has been disclosed, and post-mortem outcomes from the medical expert are nonetheless pending.

BREAKING: No foul play is obvious in right this moment's dying of actress Shonka Dukureh, 44, who portrayed Large Mama Thornton on this 12 months's Elvis film. Dukureh, a Fisk Univ graduate, was discovered lifeless within the bed room of her Kothe Means apt that she shared along with her 2 younger youngsters.

— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) July 21, 2022

Elvis, director Baz Luhrmann’s biopic about Elvis Presley which arrived in theatres in June, marked Dukureh’s first main movie function. She portrayed Thornton, who was the primary artist to document ‘Hound Canine’, in 1952, having successful with the track a couple of years earlier than Presley did along with his model.

Along with showing within the movie, Dukureh additionally featured within the accompanying music video for Doja Cat‘s track from the Elvis soundtrack, ‘Vegas’, which interpolates a pattern of Thornton’s ‘Hound Canine’ recording. Dukureh additionally appeared onstage with Doja Cat through the rapper’s set at Coachella in April of this 12 months, performing the track collectively. Dukureh’s recording of ‘Hound Canine’ appeared on the soundtrack for Elvis.

Dukureh grew up in Nashville, graduating from Fisk College with a theatre diploma and Trevecca Nazarene with an training diploma. Along with her work as a musician and actress, she had additionally beforehand been a trainer and ran after-school and summer time faculty applications for inner-city youth.

Talking about Dukureh earlier this 12 months, director Baz Luhrmann mentioned she had answered a name to do vocals when he was recording with Dave Cobb in Nashville. “Her efficiency was so nice she appeared the right individual to play the all-important function of Willie Mae ‘Large Mama’ Thornton in Elvis,” Luhrmann mentioned.