‘Monster’s Ball’ Actor Coronji Calhoun Passes Away at 30

Coronji Calhoun, who in his only onscreen appearance portrayed Halle Berry and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son in 2001’s “Monster’s Ball,” has passed away at the age of 30.

In a GoFundMe page, Calhoun’s mother Theresa Bailey revealed the tragic news that her son had died October 13.

“Hello community, family, and friends. I know this is a trying time for everyone, however, I am inclined to ask for your help because my son is in need of his community’s support. Coronji Calhoun Sr. recently joined the ancestors in watching over me and our family on October 13, 2021.”

Noting that her son did not have a life insurance policy, Theresa created the page to raise funds for her son’s celebration of life ceremony.

Per the website, Berry and “Monster’s Ball” co-producer Lee Daniels each donated $3,394. As of this writing, the page has raised over $11,000.

New Orleans TV station WWL spoke to Bailey, who revealed that her son died due to congestive heart failure and lung problems.

When he was cast as Tyrell Musgrove in the critically acclaimed film, the New Sarpy, Louisiana, native was 10 years old and had no prior acting experience.

In a 2002 interview with iofilm, Berry said she found it difficult to berate Calhoun’s character for being overweight, so she spent time “kissing him and hugging him every minute before and right after and really making an investment in him.”

“It was hard because he said something really heartbreaking to us: [Director Marc Forster] and I were talking to him, saying this is just a movie, and I kept saying, ‘Everything I do and say, it’s not real, I really think you’re wonderful.’ And he said, ‘Well, whatever you do to me, Halle Berry, it isn’t going to be worse than what the kids at school do to me.’”

For her performance, Berry was awarded a Best Actress Academy Award, making her the first Black actress to win the prestigious honor.

On Wednesday, Bailey provided an update, thanking those who supported her family during this difficult time.

“On behalf of the Calhoun and Bailey family, I would like to thank each and every individual who found it in their hearts to extend the much needed financial support to lay Coronji Sr. to rest. We are blown away by the outpouring of love the community and Coronji’s adopted family has shown during our process of grief,” she wrote.

“While the financial burden has been lifted, we still mourn the loss of my son. As we close this chapter, we ask that in your remembrance of him, you remember to love your neighbor as yourself, because that is what Coronji did for his entire community.”

Per WWL, Calhoun was one of six children, and leaves behind a 10-year-old son and 13-year-old stepson.