NY TIMES
Taraja Ramsess, a stunt performer who worked on the “Black Panther” and “Avengers” Marvel franchises, died in a car crash near Atlanta last week that also killed three of his children, the authorities said.
The crash occurred around 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 31 on Interstate 20 in DeKalb County, east of the city, the DeKalb County Police Department said. At around 11:45 p.m., Mr. Ramsess, 41, was driving a Ford F-150 truck eastbound on the highway, which runs through the Atlanta metropolitan area and exits the state in Augusta.
As he was taking an exit onto Wesley Chapel Road, he “collided with a tractor-trailer that had broken down in the left lane,” the police said in a statement obtained on Tuesday. that added the cause was being investigated.
Mr. Ramsess, 41, his 13-year-old daughter Sundari, and his 1-month-old daughter Fuji Bo were killed, the department said. Mr. Ramsess’s 10-year-old son, Kisasi and 3-year-old daughter, Shazia were ejected from the car, WSB-TV, a television station in Atlanta, reported last week.
Over the weekend, Akili Ramsess, Mr. Ramsess’s mother and the executive director of the National Press Photographers Association, said in a post on Instagram that Kisasihad died. The NPPA said he was taken off life support on Nov. 4.
Shazia’s condition as of Tuesday morning was unclear.
“All who knew and met him know how special Taraja was,” Ms. Ramsess said on Instagram. “He had a deep capacity for love and loved his children more than all. He loved his martial arts, motorcycles and all things related to filmmaking.”
Mr. Ramsess began working as a set designer in 2009 and took on stunt performing in 2015, according to IMDb. Some of his stunt credits include “Bad Boys for Life,” “The Suicide Squad,” “The Harder They Fall,” “Emancipation” and “Creed III.”
Marvel did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
The director Ava DuVernay said on Instagram last week that she had worked with Mr. Ramsess. “He loved making movies and TV too,” she said. “Held many positions over the years. Immersing himself in all aspects of the craft.”
Tony Tucci, a friend who trained Mr. Ramsess in martial arts for nearly a decade, told WSB-TV that he broke down after hearing the news.
“He was just an amazing person and we have a great loss to this world,” he said. “It makes you reflect and it gives you new perspective on everyone we need to call everyday, cause you never know when your last words are going to be to someone.”
