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Thomas Jefferson Byrd, an actor who found his characters immerse in the rich worlds created by directorΒ Spike Lee, was murdered overnight in Atlanta, Georgia according to Lee.
“I’m So Sad To Announce The Tragic Murder Of Our Beloved Brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd Last Night In Atlanta,Georgia,” Lee wrote on Instagram Sunday (October 4). “Tom Is My Guy, Here Below You See Him As The Freigenting Character Errol Barnes In CLOCKERS. Brother Byrd Also Did His Thang In My Joints- CHI-RAQ, SWEET BLOOD OF JESUS, RED HOOK SUMMER,BAMBOOZLED, HE GOT GAME, GET ON THE BUS, GIRL 6 And CLOCKERS. May We All Wish Condolences And Blessings To His Family. Rest In Peace Brother Byrd.”
Byrd, 70, first worked with Lee on the 1995 filmΒ Clockers before appearing in follow-up Lee films such asΒ Girl 6,Β Get On The Bus, He Got Game,Β Bamboozled,Β Red Hook Summer,Β Da Sweet Blood of JesusΒ andΒ Chi-Raq. He also starred as Nola Darling’s father Stokley for the TV adaptation ofΒ She’s Gotta Have It. His most famous non-Spike related role came in 1996 when he played Luther in the action-dramaΒ Set It Off.
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Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Character Actor From Spike Lee Films, Dead At 70Β was originally published on myhoustonmajic.com