RIP Deebo,” the San Francisco 49ers said on Twitter. “One of the nicest bullies we’ve come across. He briefly played football with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League. 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. “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. Lister also appeared in “The Fifth Element,” “The Dark Knight” and “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” Thank you for being a good dude at heart. “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. “RIP Tiny “Deebo” Lister,” Ice Cube said Thursday night on Instagram. His character was known for his infamous line “Get knocked out like your father used to.” He portrayed the role of Deebo, a felon who was known as the neighborhood bully who terrorized his neighbors with intimidation and fear. However, Lister’s most notable role came in the 1995 film “Friday” and its sequel five years later. He also had a short stint in the World Championship Wrestling under the name Z-Gangsta. 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. 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.
Lister started his career as a pro wrestler, standing 6-foot-5 with broad shoulders at about 275 pounds. “He had a smile as broad as you could imagine. The cause of death has not been released, and the coroner’s office is investigating. She said the actor overcame the virus, but he became sick about a week ago and recently had trouble breathing. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Ĭowan said Lister was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this year. Lister’s manager, Cindy Cowan, said he was found unconscious in his home in Marina Del Rey, California, on Thursday afternoon.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Tommy “Tiny” Lister, a former professional wrestler who was known for his bullying Deebo character in the “Friday” films, has died. Watch Video: Bobby Brown Jr., Bobby Brown's 28-year-old son, was found dead