A stuntman who worked on the Marvel films Black Panther and the Avengers has died in a horror car crash along with three of his children.
Taraja Ramsess, 41, his 13-year-old daughter, Sundari Ramsess, 10-year-old son, Kisasi Ramsess and newborn daughter, Fugibo Ramsess, died in the fatal crash along an exit ramp on Interstate 20 in Dekalb County, Georgia.
Ramsess was driving a pickup truck full of children on Halloween night when it crashed with a tractor-trailer killing himself, the 13-year-old and the newborn immediately, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
His son, 10-year-old Kisasi and a 3-year old girl where taken to the hospital in critical condition after the crash. Kisasi died on Sunday from his injuries. Authorities said the girl is in serious but stable condition.
According to an initial investigation, Ramsess was driving a Ford F-150 and took an exit ramp where a tractor-trailer was broken down in the left lane when they collided.
Ramsess worked in the film industry and did stunts for Marvel’s Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, per IMBD.
He also worked in the art department, often as a set dresser, in over 43 projects including The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Tributes have been pouring in for the beloved performer and his family, and a GoFundMe set up on behalf of his mother has raised $81,359 so far.
‘Kisasi – or ‘Sauce the Boss’ – brought so much joy to the lives of so many. [He] was surrounded by loving family members every moment he spent in the hospital,’ the GoFundMe said of the 10-year-old.
Ramsess’s mother, Akili Ramsess posted on Instagram: ‘All who knew and met him know how special Taraja was. 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.’
‘He is a very droll yet wicked sense of humor & yet could be as cornball corny as can be. Sundari, Sunny as she was called, also reflected that special light. Funny & loved to dance. Oh God! I can’t believe they’re gone!’
Filmmaker Ave DuVernay posted a tribute to Ramsess on Instagram.
‘He walked like a king. And to me, always acted like one. He was a part of our crew family at ARRAY. He left us last night forever in a way that makes the hearts of all who knew him break into a million pieces,’ she said.
We’d talk about art and his family. My goodness, did he love his children. I remember one day on set, we didn’t have enough Black background actors for a key scene. I had to recruit my crew members to be on-camera.’
‘Taraja was the first to say yes. Yes, I’ll do my real job and then jump into this wild scene playing a tough guy with a gun for you,’ DuVernay said.
‘He was just an amazing person. We have a great loss to this world. It makes you reflect and gives you a new perspective on everyone you need to call every day. Because you never know when your last words are going to be to someone,’ long-time friend and X3 Sports trainer Tony Tucci said to WSB-TV.
‘He was always a family man. They would come and sit and watch him train, and they would jump in and start training too.’
Ramsess’s cousin Pharaoh Hardee told USA Today: ‘He was very involved and loving with these children. I would FaceTime call him randomly throughout the day and he would be getting the kids ready for school, picking them up or taking them to gym with him.’
Ramsess’s death is the second tragedy to hit the Black Panther franchise after star Chadwick Boseman died in 2020 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer at 43-years-old.