Monster’s Ball Actor Koronji Calhoun Sr. died at the age of 30

Key Sentence:

• Kalonji Calhoun Sr., who played Halle Berry Tyrell’s son in the 2001 Oscar-winning film The Monster Ball, has died the age of 30.
• His mother confirmed the actor’s death due to heart failure via a GoFundMe page set up to pay for his funeral.

Berry and Monster’s Ball producer Lee Daniels donated Monster’s Ball Actor $3,394 (£2,535). Calhoun’s mother, Theresa Si Bailey, said the family was “overwhelmed” with the love and support they received. “Even though the financial burden has been removed, we are still grieving for my son,” he wrote.

“As they close this chapter, we ask that you keep in your memory about him to love your neighbor. As yourself because Koronji has done that for his entire community.

Calhoun was only ten years old when he appeared in Monster’s Ball but had no other acting roles.

The film conveys the pivotal moment when Berry Monster’s Ball Actor becomes the first black woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Calhoun plays his artistically gifted son, whom he abuses physically and mentally because of his obesity.

“That scene was more difficult for me [than the famous love scene in the movie] because he’s a real kid with a real weight problem, and he’s had issues with it himself,” Berry said in a 2001 interview.

“And he’s not an actor. [Director Mark Forster] just got him out of the unknown in Louisiana, so he doesn’t understand the process, at least I think.

“I talked to him and his mom a lot and explained and explained it. So I hugged and kissed him before every shoot and hugged and kissed him after every shoot. He added that “he’s made it a goal to stay in touch with her and stay in her life, and I hope we stay that way.”