Samuel Monroe Jr.

Sam’s Life Story

Samuel Monroe was born on November 28, 1973, to the parents of Samuel Monroe, Sr. and Joyce Baker. Sam was a very hyperactive child. He would climb up on the roof of a house and anything else he could use to jump off of. As a baby Sam was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. He was taken to several doctors and had he not gotten to the hospital when he did, he would have died.

Sam attended George Washington Carver School 87 in Indianapolis, Indiana. In Los Angeles he attended Menlo Ave., Saturn Street and 74th St. Elementary School, and later culminated from Crenshaw High School. Sam was highly intelligent and his scores were very high, but he always got in trouble because he was the busy body of the class!

Sam confessed Christ at an early age. He loved to sing and dance to all kinds of music, especially Rap. On Saturday mornings while his mom cooked breakfast, Sam would sing and dance in the kitchen with her to 102.3 KJLH radio. Sam knew the oldies but goodies better than his mom. One of the first rap songs he wrote included his friends, Derek, Karone, Da Da, Tod, Chance and Mon’e.

Sam’s film and movie career debuted in 1993’s “Out All Night” series featuring Patti LaBelle. Sam commanded the screen and shaped a generation of film lovers through iconic roles like Tales From the Hood (1995), Set It Off (1996), The Players Club (1998), and the classic parody, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking your Juice in the Hood (1996). But we can’t forget his performance as Lena’s cousin in the huge Brother’s cinematic masterpiece Menace to Society (1994).

Sam was a man who commanded respect not through words alone, but through his immense spirit, resilience, and willingness to protect those he loved. Sam was a source of infinite pride. Sam was the type of man (for example) who would give his last dime to protect his children. Even though he did not have a car, when he got one, he gave it to his children’s mother so they could have a way to get to school.

On August 26, 2026, Samuel Monroe, Jr., also known as Boo-Boo, laid down his earthly armor after a hard-fought battle with meningitis, but his creative blueprint remains. He was preceded in death by his brother Jerold Patton, US Navy -USS Carl Vinson; and father Samuel Monroe, Sr. Left to cherish his memory is his loving mother, Joyce Patton; his stepfather Jerry Patton; children Katelyn, Kingston and Brooklyn; brothers Anthony Simpkins, and Jonathan Monroe; sisters Samantha Monroe, Samara Monroe, Laniece Dickson, Tamera Smith, and Jennifer Patton; his stepmother Johnnie Monroe; and a host of other relatives and friends.