Tom Lister Jr.

Thomas Duane "Tom" Lister Jr. (June 24, 1958 — December 10, 2020) was an American actor and occasional professional wrestler. He was known for his roles as the neighborhood bully Deebo in Friday and its 2000 sequel and as President Lindberg in The Fifth Element.

Tom Lister Jr.
Tommy "Tiny" Lister (43904364340) (cropped).jpg
Lister in 2018
Born
Thomas Duane Lister Jr.

(1958-06-24)June 24, 1958
DiedDecember 10, 2020(2020-12-10) (aged 62)
Other namesTiny, Tom, Deebo
OccupationActor
Professional wrestler
Years active1984–2020
Spouse(s)
Felicia Forbes
(m. 2003; death 2020)
ChildrenThomas Duane Lister III
Ring name(s)Zeus[1]
Z-Gangsta[1]
Billed height6 ft 6 in
Billed weight300 lb[1]
Billed fromParts Unknown
DebutApril 25, 1989[1]
RetiredMarch 1996

Lister Jr. also appeared as a prisoner in The Dark Knight (2008) who refused to activate Joker's bomb and voiced Finnick in Zootopia (2016).

He had two short professional wrestling performances, wrestling Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) after appearing as Zeus in the 1989 movie No Holds Barred and for having a feud as Z-Gangsta in 1996 for World Championship Wrestling (WCW).[1]

Lister Jr. was born in Compton, California. He was blind in his right eye.

In early 2020, Lister Jr. had COVID-19 and was successfully treated.[2] However, shortly before his death, he showed COVID symptoms for a second time.[3] Lister Jr. was found dead at his home in Marina Del Rey, California on December 10, 2020 at the age of 62. Investigation of his death is currently ongoing.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr.'s Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, who played Deebo in 'Friday,' dies". Associated Press. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  3. Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, ‘Friday’ Actor and Wrestler, Dies at 62