John Singleton (5ft 6, 167.6 cm) was a trailblazing American director whose compact, wiry stature belied his towering influence in Hollywood. Time magazine in 1992 described the then-24-year-old as a 'short (5-ft. 6-in.), wiry figure' who dressed and talked like any casual, bright young talent, perfectly capturing his approachable yet commanding presence.
At 5ft 6, Singleton's height contributed to his everyman image, allowing him to authentically helm gritty urban dramas like Boyz n the Hood (1991), which earned him historic Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay as the first African-American and youngest nominee for directing. He directed hits including Poetic Justice (1993), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Hustle & Flow (2005), and Four Brothers (2005), proving his stature never limited his cinematic vision.