Shonka Dukureh Found Dead: Was There Foul Play Involved in ‘Elvis’ Star’s Death?

By Ashley Malone

Shonka Dukureh, popularly known for portraying the role of Big Mama Thornton in the 2022 biopic film "Elvis," passed away at 44.

According to Outsider, the actress was found dead in her apartment on Thursday. She had two young children.

The Metrodash Nashville Police Department also confirmed the tragic news on social media, clarifying that there was no foul play involved in her death.

"No foul play is evident in today's death of actress Shonka Dukureh, 44, who portrayed Big Mama Thornton in this year's Elvis movie. Dukureh, a Fisk Univ graduate, was found dead in the bedroom of her Kothe Way apt that she shared with her 2 young children," authorities wrote in a tweet.

According to her official IMDb page, Dukureh only has two acting credits under her belt, "Elvis," where she played the role of Big Mama Thornton and in Doja Cat's "Vegas" music video.

As of this writing, the official cause of her death has not yet been announced. None of her family members have issued a statement regarding her passing,

The actress had the opportunity to play the role of Thornton in the famous Baz Luhrmann movie after a friend from the music industry encouraged her to audition.

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She became successful in getting the role after sending her vocals.

Upon receiving the confirmation that she'd be a part of the film, Dukureh said it was the best email she ever got.

In a previous interview, the actress said she had never seen Thornton perform live, but she observed her past performances and noticed how confident she was. She described her as an "extraordinary woman."

"One of the things that stood out to me the most was how homegrown her talent was. She approached music the way she felt it. Whatever she was singing, she channeled it," she added. (via News Channel 5 Nashville)

Coincidentally, while studying at Fisk University under the theater program, the actress performed "Hound Dog" as part of a production of "Smokey Joe's Cafe."

Little did she know, she'd be performing the song again in a major movie.

Regarding her character in "Elvis," Big Mama Thornton was popularly known for being the first singer of "Hound Dog" before it got popularized by Elvis Presley.

The track stayed in the charts for over 11 weeks.