Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Former Pro Wrestler and Actor 'Tiny' Lister, After Earlier Bout with COVID, Dies
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
December 11, 2020

Share

LOS ANGELES — Tommy “Tiny” Lister, a former professional wrestler who was known for his bullying Deebo character in the “Friday” films, has died. He was 62.

Lister’s manager, Cindy Cowan, said he was found unconscious in his home in Marina Del Rey, California, on Thursday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cowan said Lister was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this year. She said the actor overcame the virus, but he became sick about a week ago and recently had trouble breathing.

The cause of death has not been released, and the coroner’s office is investigating.

“He was a gentle giant,” Cowan said. “He had a smile as broad as you could imagine. He’s going to be missed by so many. We’re all devastated.”

Lister started his career as a pro wrestler, standing 6-foot-5 with broad shoulders at about 275 pounds. His early roles included HBO football series “1st & Ten” along with movie appearances in “Beverly Hills Cop II,” which starred Eddie Murphy, and “No Holds Barred,” the 1989 film where his character Zeus challenged Hulk Hogan in a wrestling match.

The actor, who was blind in his right eye since birth, wrestled Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation in an actual match after the “No Holds Barred” film release. He also had a short stint in the World Championship Wrestling under the name Z-Gangsta.

The Compton, California, Native Was a Track and Field Star

However, Lister’s most notable role came in the 1995 film “Friday” and its sequel five years later. He portrayed the role of Deebo, a felon who was known as the neighborhood bully who terrorized his neighbors with intimidation and fear. His character was known for his infamous line “Get knocked out like your father used to.”

“RIP Tiny “Deebo” Lister,” Ice Cube said Thursday night on Instagram. “America’s favorite bully was a born entertainer who would pop into character at the drop of a hat terrifying people on and off camera. Followed by a big smile and laugh. Thank you for being a good dude at heart. I miss you already.”

Lister also appeared in “The Fifth Element,” “The Dark Knight” and “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”

“WWE is saddened to learn that Tom “Tiny” Lister, known as Zeus to the WWE Universe, passed away today,” the WWE said in a tweet.

The Compton, California, native was a track and field star who became the 1982 NCAA Division II shotput champion while he attended Cal State University Los Angeles. He briefly played football with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League.

“One of the nicest bullies we’ve come across. RIP Deebo,” the San Francisco 49ers said on Twitter. Deebo Samuel, a 49ers wide receiver, got his nickname from Lister’s character.

The death was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Westminster Show’s Canine Athletes Compete on Super Bowl Weekend

DON'T MISS

Trump Admin Cuts Billions in Biomedical Health Research Funding

DON'T MISS

Here’s What We Know About a Commuter Plane Crash in Alaska That Killed 10 People

DON'T MISS

Trump’s 3rd Week: More Executive Orders, a Trade War That Wasn’t, and a Mideast Jolt

DON'T MISS

UMass Will Pay Student Who Made Half-Court Shot $10,000 Even Though His Foot Was on Line

DON'T MISS

Trump Is Signing Up Local Law Officers to Help With Immigration Enforcement

DON'T MISS

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave

DON'T MISS

Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data

DON'T MISS

Rookies for Eagles and Chiefs Could Play a Key Role in the Super Bowl

DON'T MISS

Sony PlayStation Network Outage Enrages Gamers Around the World

UP NEXT

Plane Located That Matches the One That Went Missing in Alaska With 10 Aboard; 3 Bodies Found

UP NEXT

Alaska Legislature Asks Trump to Retain Denali’s Name

UP NEXT

Flu Season in the US Is the Most Intense It’s Been in at Least 15 Years

UP NEXT

Search Underway Along Alaska’s Western Coast for Plane Carrying 10 People

UP NEXT

California’s EV Sales Stall. So What Happens to Landmark Mandate?

UP NEXT

State Farm Asks for ‘Emergency’ Insurance Rate Increases After LA Fires

UP NEXT

Lawmakers Propose $175 Million in New CalFire Funding

UP NEXT

FBI Agents Who ‘Simply Followed Orders’ in Jan. 6 Probes Won’t Be Fired, a Justice Official Says

UP NEXT

Rob Bonta Tells Politico That He’s Not Running for CA Governor

UP NEXT

LA Neighbors Have Vastly Different Post-Wildfire Rebuilding Options Due to Insurance Crisis

Trump’s 3rd Week: More Executive Orders, a Trade War That Wasn’t, and a Mideast Jolt

9 hours ago

UMass Will Pay Student Who Made Half-Court Shot $10,000 Even Though His Foot Was on Line

9 hours ago

Trump Is Signing Up Local Law Officers to Help With Immigration Enforcement

10 hours ago

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave

10 hours ago

Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data

10 hours ago

Rookies for Eagles and Chiefs Could Play a Key Role in the Super Bowl

10 hours ago

Sony PlayStation Network Outage Enrages Gamers Around the World

11 hours ago

Trump Says He’s Firing Kennedy Center Board Members, Naming Himself Chairman

11 hours ago

PJ Pickles, the Pajama-Clad Pup, Want to Join Your Loving Home

11 hours ago

Newsom Signs $50M Plan to Battle Trump Policies, Support Immigrants

1 day ago

Westminster Show’s Canine Athletes Compete on Super Bowl Weekend

NEW YORK — They’re at the top of their sport. They run, weave and go airborne. And they went all out for this weekend’s champion...

2 hours ago

2 hours ago

Westminster Show’s Canine Athletes Compete on Super Bowl Weekend

3 hours ago

Trump Admin Cuts Billions in Biomedical Health Research Funding

8 hours ago

Here’s What We Know About a Commuter Plane Crash in Alaska That Killed 10 People

9 hours ago

Trump’s 3rd Week: More Executive Orders, a Trade War That Wasn’t, and a Mideast Jolt

9 hours ago

UMass Will Pay Student Who Made Half-Court Shot $10,000 Even Though His Foot Was on Line

10 hours ago

Trump Is Signing Up Local Law Officers to Help With Immigration Enforcement

10 hours ago

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave

10 hours ago

Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend