Taraja Ramsess (born 9 March 1982 – died 31 October 2023, Aged: 41 years old) was a talented and versatile stuntman who worked on several Marvel movies, including Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

He was also an art director, a martial artist, and a loving father of five children. Sadly, he and three of his children died in a tragic car accident in Atlanta on October 31, 2023. Here is a tribute to his life, career, and family.

Early Life, Age, and Education

Taraja Ramsess was born on March 9, 1982, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was of African-American ethnicity and had two brothers, Malik and Kza. He attended De Anza College in California, where he studied film and television production.

He later transferred to Los Angeles City College, where he continued his studies in cinema and television arts. He also enrolled in the Art Institute of Atlanta, where he learned about art direction and design.

Career as a Stuntman and Art Director

Taraja Ramsess had a passion for filmmaking and martial arts. He started his career as a stunt performer in 2007, working on various projects such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Walking Dead, The Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. He was also a member of the Stunts Unlimited team, a prestigious group of stunt professionals in Hollywood.

He made his mark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing as a Border Tribe Warrior in Avengers: Infinity War and performing stunts in Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame, and The Suicide Squad. He also worked as a stunt double for actors such as Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Anthony Mackie. He was praised for his skills, professionalism, and enthusiasm by his colleagues and directors.

Besides being a stuntman, Taraja Ramsess was also an art director and a set dresser. He worked in the art department of several films and TV shows, such as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, The Suicide Squad, The Gifted, and The Resident. He had a keen eye for detail and creativity, and he enjoyed creating immersive and realistic environments for the stories.

Spouse, Children & Personal Life

Taraja Ramsess was in a relationship with Lisa Ann Wilson, a hairstylist and makeup artist. They had five children together: Sundari, Fujibo, Shazia, Kisasi, and Zara. Taraja Ramsess loved his children more than anything and was a devoted father. He often shared pictures and videos of his family on his social media accounts, showing his affection and pride.

He also loved his motorcycles, his martial arts, and his sense of humor. He was described by his mother, Akili Ramsess, as a man who had a deep capacity for love and a wicked sense of humor. He was also a corny and funny person, who could make anyone laugh. He was a special and unique person, who touched many lives with his light and spirit.

Tragic Death and Legacy

On October 31, 2023, Taraja Ramsess and his five children were driving in a pickup truck on the SR 316 westbound ramp to Interstate 85 southbound in Gwinnett County, Georgia. According to the police, the truck collided with a tractor-trailer and went over the wall of the raised ramp, falling onto the interstate.

Taraja Ramsess, his 13-year-old daughter Sundari, his 10-year-old son Kisasi, and his 8-week-old daughter Fujibo were killed instantly. His 3-year-old daughter Shazia survived with minor injuries, while his 5-year-old daughter Zara was not in the truck.

The news of the accident shocked and saddened the film industry and the fans of Marvel. Many celebrities and filmmakers expressed their condolences and tributes to Taraja Ramsess and his family on social media. Among them were Ava DuVernay, who worked with him on Selma and A Wrinkle in Time, and Ryan Coogler, who directed him on Black Panther. They praised his talent, character, and passion, and said he would be missed and remembered.

Taraja Ramsess was a remarkable stuntman, art director, and father, who left behind a legacy of excellence, joy, and love. He was a part of the Marvel family, and his work will live on in the films he contributed to. He was also a part of his own family, and his memory will live on in the hearts of his partner, his children, his mother, his brothers, and his friends. He was a hero, both on and off the screen, and he will never be forgotten.

Height, Weight & Physical Appearance

Taraja Ramsess was a handsome and fit man, who had a great physique. He was a tall gentleman who stood at a height of 1.85 m and weighed around 80 kg.

He had brown eyes and black hair, which he often styled in dreadlocks or braids. He also had a beard and a mustache, which gave him a rugged and charismatic look. 

Taraja Ramsess Wiki/BIO

Family Details: Parents & Siblings

Taraja Ramsess was born into a family of creative and artistic people. His parents and siblings were also involved in various aspects of filmmaking and media. His mother, Akili Ramsess, is the executive director of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), the United States’ largest member organization of visual journalists.

She is also a photojournalist and an educator, who has worked for several newspapers and magazines, such as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Orlando Sentinel, and Ebony Magazine. She has won numerous awards for her photography and leadership, such as the NPPA Joseph Costa Award, the NPPA Morris Berman Citation, and the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar Cliff Edom’s “New America Award”.

His father’s name is not publicly known, but he was also a filmmaker and a martial artist. He taught Taraja and his brothers the art of kung fu and inspired them to pursue their passions in the film industry.

His brothers, Malik and Kza, are also talented and successful in their own fields. Malik Ramsess is the owner of Ramsess Art Garden, a plant shop and art gallery in Los Angeles. He is also a musician, a designer, and a community builder, who hosts events and workshops for artists and creatives.

Kza Ramsess is a filmmaker and a producer, who has worked on several projects, such as The Nickel Boys, The Gifted, and The Resident. He is also a martial artist and a stunt performer, who has collaborated with his brother Taraja on some films.

Black Panther stuntman and three of his children killed in tragic car crash

Taraja Ramsess, a stuntman, actor, and martial artist who worked on several Marvel and DC movies, died along with three of his children in a horrific car crash in Georgia on October 31. He was 41 years old.

What happened?

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ramsess was driving a pickup truck with six children on board on Halloween night. The truck collided with a tractor-trailer that had broken down in the left lane of an exit ramp off Interstate 20 in DeKalb County. The impact caused the truck to burst into flames.

Ramsess and his two daughters, Sundari, 13, and Fujibo, 8 weeks, were pronounced dead at the scene. His son, Kisasi, 10, and another daughter, Shazia, 3, were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Kisasi later succumbed to his injuries, while Shazia remains in serious but stable condition. Two other children, who were not related to Ramsess, suffered minor injuries and were released from the hospital.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, who was not injured, told the police that he had pulled over to the left shoulder after his vehicle experienced mechanical problems. He said he had activated his hazard lights and placed reflective triangles behind his vehicle. The police are investigating the cause of the crash and have not filed any charges as of November 7.

Trivia

• He was a member of the Stunts Unlimited team, a prestigious group of stunt professionals in Hollywood.
• He appeared as a Border Tribe Warrior in Avengers: Infinity War and performed stunts in Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame, and The Suicide Squad.
• Taraja Ramsess worked as a stunt double for actors such as Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Anthony Mackie.

• He worked as an art director and a set dresser on several films and TV shows, such as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, The Suicide Squad, The Gifted, and The Resident.
• He loved his motorcycles, his martial arts, and his sense of humor.
• Ramsess was praised by his colleagues and directors, such as Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler, for his talent, character, and passion.
• He died in a tragic car accident along with three of his children, while two of his children survived with injuries.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrKynspmle6S7zGiuoqOZZMGivsCjmGaqkaLApr%2FSaA%3D%3D