Tommy "Tiny" Lister, who appeared in Friday andThe Fifth Element and was also a professional wrestler, died Thursday (Dec 10), his manager Cindy Cowan confirmed.
Cowan said he was found unresponsive in his apartment in Marina Del Rey, California after displaying symptoms of Covid-19 in recent days.
He had been working on a film and had to cancel shooting after falling ill, Cowan said.
"He was a wonderful guy with a heart of gold. Everyone loved him. A real gentle giant," she said,"We're all devastated."
Lister wrestled Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation after appearing as Zeus in 1989's No Holds Barred.
He later spent time in World Championship Wrestling, where he was billed as Z-Gangsta.
The actor, who was blind in his right eye, played the neighbourhood bully Deebo in the 1995 Friday and appeared in the sequel Next Friday.
His other appearances include playing a prisoner in The Dark Knight, and the bail agent in Jackie Brown, as well as roles in The Players Club, Ice Cube's directing debut and Mario Van Peeble's Posse.
He had a supporting role in Zootopia as the voice of the fennec fox, in Adam Sandler's Little Nicky as Nicky's brother Cassius, and in Austin Powers In Goldmember.
In The Fifth Element, he played the Galactic President.
In the pilot of Star Trek: Enterprise, he played Klaang, the first Klingon to make contact with humans.
Also on television, he appeared as Matlock's bodyguard in Matlock and on In The Heat Of The Night.
Lister appeared in music videos for French Montana, 50 Cent, Sublime, Ice Cube, Chamillionaire and Young Bleed.
Born in Compton, California, he won the national shot put title in college, and briefly played football before deciding to become an actor.
He is survived by a daughter. – Reuters
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
