Tommy Lister Jr.

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Tommy Debo "Tiny" Lister Jr.[1][2] (born Thomas Duane Lister Jr.; June 24, 1958 – December 10, 2020)[3] was an American actor and former professional wrestler. As a character actor, he is known for his roles as the neighborhood bully Deebo in the 1995 film Friday and its 2000 sequel, and as President Lindberg in The Fifth Element. He had two short professional wrestling stints, with Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) after appearing as Zeus in the 1989 film No Holds Barred and resuming the feud as Z-Gangsta in 1996 for World Championship Wrestling (WCW).[4] He was born with a detached and deformed retina and was blind in his right eye, which drooped, a unique look that he turned to his advantage in film.[5] He played in both comedies and dramas, usually cast as 'the heavy/big bully'.

Early life

Lister was born on June 24, 1958, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Thomas Duane Lister and Mildred (née Edwards) Lister. He grew up in Compton, California.[6] Since his birth, he had a deformed and detached retina in his right eye, causing permanent blindness in his right eye.[5]

Lister attended Palomar Junior College before transferring to Long Beach City College for his sophomore year. While at Long Beach, he recorded a Template:Cvt shot put throw, which helped to earn him a scholarship to California State University, Los Angeles. In his senior year, he won the national shot put title with a mark of over Template:Cvt. Lister was the 1982 NCAA Division II National Shot Put Champion.[5][7]

After college, Lister competed for the Converse Track Club, eventually raising his shot put mark to Template:Cvt, before trying out with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League.[5] He was cut after two exhibition games and opted to pursue acting instead.[8]

Acting career

Lister was mostly recognized as the antagonist known as Deebo from 1995's Friday.[9] He reprised the role in the film's sequel, Next Friday (2000), but did not appear in the third film of the series, Friday After Next (2002). He did, however, appear in Cube's directorial debut The Players Club. He played the role of Obodo in Mario Van Peebles' Posse (1993), along with Tone Loc.[8]

Lister had numerous guest appearances on TV series, including playing Klaang, the first Klingon to make contact with humans, in the pilot episode of Star Trek: Enterprise.[10] He co-starred in a two-part episode of the courtroom series Matlock as Mr. Matlock's in-prison bodyguard. He appeared in season 7 episode 9 of In the Heat of the Night,[11] and in season 1 episode 15 of ER. He also starred in the sitcom 1st & Ten as Otis.

Lister's film roles included playing in The Dark Knight[7] and Austin Powers in Goldmember.[9][10] Lister was featured in The Fifth Element as the Galactic President.[7][12][13] He appeared in the Adam Sandler film Little Nicky as Nicky's older brother Cassius.[11]

Lister was the main police officer in Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" video and reprised his role as a police officer in Chamillionaire's 2012 single "Show Love". He has appeared in the Ice Cube videos for "Friday" (from the Friday soundtrack) and "You Can Do It" (from the Next Friday soundtrack). Lister appeared via both original footage and clips from the film. He was in the videos for Young Bleed's "How You Do Dat", French Montana's "I Told 'Em" and 50 Cent's "Many Men (Wish Death)". Lister portrayed Sancho in the Sublime music video "Santeria".[11]

In the Quentin Tarantino film Jackie Brown,[14] he played bail agent Winston, who "finds people who don't want to be found". In 2015, Lister filmed Busy Day in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[15] Lister had a supporting role in the 2016 Disney animated movie Zootopia as the voice of the diminutive fennec fox, Finnick.[7] He appeared in a commercial that year for Ball Park-brand beef jerky, advertised as "tough, but tender."[7][16]

In the 40 years of his acting career, Lister accumulated more than 200 acting credits.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

Cast as an habitual 'bad guy' in films, his career prospered. He was a frequent collaborator with Ice Cube. Lister later became the spokesperson for Monster Energy Drink in the 2010s.[32]

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Federation (1989–1990)

Lister appeared in the 1989 wrestling movie No Holds Barred,[9][12] which was financed by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and starred Hulk Hogan. Lister's role was Zeus, a brutal monster heel.[7][11] No Holds Barred inspired a feud in the WWF during the latter half of 1989. Lister was billed as "Zeus: The Human Wrecking Machine",[33][7][9][12] and used the same "monster heel" gimmick in his matches by no-selling his opponent's moves. He would yell, "Aw! Aw!" and pound on his chest several times during his interviews and in the ring. Zeus would eventually demand Hogan to face him in the ring.[12]

Citing jealousy for being billed under Hogan and anger over losing to Hogan in the film, Zeus wanted to beat him in "real life". Zeus formed an alliance with fellow Hogan rival "Macho Man" Randy Savage to feud with Hogan and his friend, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake. The two teams faced off at the 1989 SummerSlam event in a tag team match which saw Hogan and Beefcake prevail as the victors, with Hogan pinning Zeus.[7][34] Following SummerSlam, Zeus formed an alliance with "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase leading into that year's Survivor Series.

At the event, the team of The Hulkamaniacs (Hulk Hogan, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and Demolition) faced The Million Dollar Team (Ted DiBiase, Zeus, and The Powers of Pain). Zeus was eliminated from the match via disqualification after refusing to break a chokehold on Hogan and shoving the referee away.[33][7] The Hulkamaniacs went on to win the match, defeating the other team.[35] After the Survivor Series, the feud between Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake versus Randy Savage and Zeus ended with a steel cage match on December 27, 1989, at the No Holds Barred pay-per-view event. Hogan and Beefcake were once again victorious in what would be Zeus's last match in the WWF. Lister's final WWF appearance was a promotional spot for the 1990 Royal Rumble.[7][36]

World Wrestling Council (1990)

On July 7, 1990, Zeus fought Abdullah the Butcher in a double countout at a World Wrestling Council 1990 WWC Aniversario show in Puerto Rico.[37]

World Championship Wrestling (1996)

Lister spent March 1996 in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as Z-Gangsta, as part of The Alliance to End Hulkamania, culminating in failure at Uncensored. He debuted the previous week with fellow actor/wrestler Robert Swenson,[38] who was billed as The Ultimate Solution.[9]

Legacy and awards

U.S. national shot put title with a mark of over Template:Cvt and 1982 NCAA Division II National Shot Put Champion.[5][7][39]

The athletic department of Lister's alma mater Cal State LA sponsors an annual track meet in his name.[40]

In 2016, he was nominated for the "Best Bad Mu#&a Award" at the All Def Movie Awards. In 2014 at the Orlando Urban Film Festival, he won "Best Star Spotlight" for his performance in No Weapon Formed Against Us.[41]

Personal life

Marriage

He was married to Felicia Forbes in Cape Town 2003, they have one daughter named Faith Grace Lister.[42]

Legal issues

On August 31, 2012, Lister agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to commit mortgage fraud, in a scheme that led to $3.8 million in losses.[5] He was charged with fraudulently buying homes in order to withdraw $1.1 million in home equity loans.[43] In April 2014, he was out on bail and was confident of avoiding prison. He stated, "What's so cool about God and our government is that you can make a mistake and they will forgive you if you just a good person and doing right."[5]

Health problems

By age 55, Lister had type 2 diabetes.[5]

Lister was diagnosed with COVID-19 around August 2020 and overcame the illness.[9] He became ill with symptoms similar to COVID-19 a second time in early December, exhibiting weakness and trouble breathing, which forced him to cancel shooting for a film.[44] His manager Cindy McGowen, who said it was not normal for him to miss filmings, became concerned and sent her assistant to his house to give him vitamins and antibiotics.[45]

Death

On December 10, 2020, police performing a wellness check found Lister dead in his home in Marina del Rey, California; he was 62 years old. The coroner's office investigated his cause of death and the final autopsy report revealed that the cause of death was hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.[46]

In a Twitter encomium, Ice Cube recalled Lister's sense of humor: "RIP Tiny 'Deebo' Lister. 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."[10]

Championships and accomplishments

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "sort".
1986 Script error: No such module "Sort". Nose Guard
Blue City Script error: No such module "sort".
Armed and Dangerous Bruno
Wired to Kill Script error: No such module "sort".
1987 Extreme Prejudice Monday
Beverly Hills Cop II Orvis
Prison Script error: No such module "sort".
1988 The Night Before Script error: No such module "sort".
1989 No Holds Barred Zeus
Homer and Eddie Man in Bar with Gun
Midnight Security Guard
1990 Think Big Script error: No such module "sort".
Secret Agent 00 Soul —
1991 9 1⁄2 Ninjas! Cutter
Trabbi Goes to Hollywood Script error: No such module "sort".
Talkin' Dirty After Dark Bigg
1992 Universal Soldier GR86
Trespass Cletus
1993 Posse Obobo
The Meteor Man Script error: No such module "sort".
1994 Immortal Combat Yanagi
Men of War Blades
Don Juan DeMarco Rocco Compton
1995 Hologram Man Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
Friday Deebo
Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead Script error: No such module "sort".
The Kangaroo Sadran
1996 A Thin Line Between Love and Hate Tyrone
Barb Wire Bouncer
Phat Beach Script error: No such module "sort".
White Cargo Zeno
Street Corner Justice Angel Aikens
1997 The Good Bad Guy Mobster #2
The Fifth Element President Lindberg
Below Utopia Script error: No such module "sort".
Gang Related Script error: No such module "sort".
Hoover Park Script error: No such module "sort".
Jackie Brown Winston
A Time to Revenge Corporal Hollis
1998 The Players Club Script error: No such module "sort".
I Got the Hook-Up Script error: No such module "sort".
Butter Script error: No such module "sort".
Judgment Day Brother Clarence Script error: No such module "Sort".
1999 Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies Tillaver
Stealth Fighter Berg
Shark in a Bottle The Recruiter
2000 Next Friday Deebo
Circus Script error: No such module "sort".
Little Nicky Cassius
The Cheapest Movie Ever Made Kevin
2001 The Duo Tiny Lister, Jr.
Vegas, City of Dreams Llord's Security Chief
Out Kold Script error: No such module "sort".
Soulkeeper Chad
The Wash Script error: No such module "sort".
2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember Prisoner #2
2003 Confidence Harlin
Keepin' It Real Script error: No such module "sort".
Love Chronicles Alfonso
Hellborn Script error: No such module "sort".
2004 My Baby's Daddy Script error: No such module "sort".
Never Die Alone Script error: No such module "sort".
Knocked the "F" Out —
A Night in Compton Script error: No such module "sort".
Dracula 3000 Script error: No such module "sort".
Slammed Bubba
El Padrino Script error: No such module "sort".
Hair Show Agent Little
Blast Smiley
Full Clip Bumaye
Choices 2 — Script error: No such module "Sort".
2005 County General Script error: No such module "sort".
Santa's Slay Script error: No such module "sort".
2006 Forbidden Fruits Jade Script error: No such module "Sort".
One Night with the King Hagai
Who Made the Potatoe Salad? Script error: No such module "sort".
2007 The Still Life Art Buyer
Da Block Party 2 C.J.'s Father Script error: No such module "Sort".
Vegas Vampires Andrew Johnson
Ascension Day Will Script error: No such module "Sort".
The Pink Conspiracy Script error: No such module "sort".
The Grand German's Bodyguard
Bone Dry Mitch
Lady Samurai Script error: No such module "sort".
2008 The Hustle Dog Thief
Terra Nova Sewing Dude
The Dark Knight Tattooed Prisoner
2009 Block Party Madness Script error: No such module "sort". Script error: No such module "Sort".
Unemployed Script error: No such module "sort".
The Rimshop Duncan
Miss B's Hair Salon Mr. Biggs
Super Capers Sarge
Holy Water SixPac Jordan
2010 First Dog Big Mike
The Lazarus Papers Tiny Delaney
Lean Like a Cholo Crazy Loc
Food Stamps Reggie The Mail Man
2011 The Sixth Priest Script error: No such module "Sort".
Hopelessly in June Pastor G
The Trap Door Jomo Script error: No such module "Sort".
Cornered Captain Williams
The Preacher's Family Jackson Hines
2012 Noah Roaring Giant Script error: No such module "Sort".
We the Party No Shame
72 Hours with Empire Deebo Script error: No such module "Sort".
Beyond the Trophy Billy Thomas
Hillbilly Highway Wilbert
K-11 Detroit
Heaven's Door Ben Wilson
Silent No More Blake
2013 White T Mad Rapper
Comedy of Errorz —
2014 Engage the Vision Deebo Script error: No such module "Sort".
Vultures in the Void Space Clown
2015 Tiny and the Optometrist Himself
American Justice Justice
The Amazing Wizard of Paws Diner Manager Script error: No such module "Sort".
The Human Centipede 3 (Final Sequence) Inmate 178
The Whole World at Our Feet Louie
Tamales and Gumbo Uncle Mark
Death's Door Jomo
If I Tell You I Have to Kill You Gabriel
No Weapon Formed Against Us Jackson Hines
2016 Woman Scorned Brandon Script error: No such module "Sort".
Zootopia Finnick Script error: No such module "Sort".
Hickey Henry
Beyond the Game Ezra
Of Sentimental Value Tee
Hauntsville Kaine
2017 2016 Rondo
Boone: The Bounty Hunter Man in TV Show
Busy Day Johnny Burns
2018 Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece Superfly
2019 Slasher Party Smiley Face
I Got the Hook Up 2 T-Lay
2020 She's the One Carjacker
Hell Hole Martin
2021 Domino: Battle of the Bones Twelvespeed Script error: No such module "sort".
Welcome to Our World Reggie The Mail Man
Money Is King Detective Willams Script error: No such module "Sort".
Script error: No such module "sort".
2022 The Allnighter Preston Script error: No such module "sort".
Renegades Apollo Script error: No such module "sort".
2025 Zootopia 2 Finnick Script error: No such module "Sort".
Final film role
Dedicated in memory

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984 Webster Football Player Script error: No such module "sort".
Episode: "You Can't Go Home Again"
1984–1987 1st & Ten Otis Script error: No such module "sort".
Recurring cast: season 1 & 4
1986–1989 Matlock Script error: No such module "sort".
Script error: No such module "Sort". 		Script error: No such module "sort".
1987 Perfect Strangers Leroy Episode: "Hello, Elaine"
Warm Hearts, Cold Feet Script error: No such module "sort". Television film
Glory Years Tony Television film
1989 Hard Time on Planet Earth John Henry Episode: "The Hot Dog Man"
Chameleons Luther Television film
CBS Summer Playhouse — Episode: "B-Men"
1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Script error: No such module "sort". Episode: "72 Hours"
1992 The Boys Bodybuilder Television film
Script error: No such module "sort".
1993 Renegade Marvin Montgomery Episode: "The Champ"
Walker, Texas Ranger Hicks Episode: "Storm Warning"
In the Heat of the Night Tommy 'T.K.' Kendricks Episode: "Every Man's Family"
1995 ER Patient Episode: "Feb 5, '95"
Step by Step Security Guard Episode: "Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?"
The Parent 'Hood Leroy Moland Episode: "The Bully Pulpit"
Martin Apollo Episode: "Housekeeper From Hell"
The Set-Up Leon Script error: No such module "sort".
1996 NYPD Blue Bob Episode: "Burnin' Love"
WCW Monday Nitro Script error: No such module "sort". Episode: "Sullivan's Secret Weapons"
Moesha Security Guard #2 Episode: "A Concerted Effort: Part 1"
1997 Malcolm & Eddie Zeus Episode: "Lockdown"
In the House Mono Episode: "Dial 'M' for Marion"
The Jamie Foxx Show Adam Episode: "I Do, I Didn't"
Sparks Larry Episode: "Won't You Be My Neighbor"
L.A. Heat A.K. Episode: "Rap Sheet"
USA High Tony Episode: "Mr. Tiffani"
1998 Damon Alfonse Episode: "My Brother's So-Called Life"
1999 Supreme Sanction Lester Television film
2001 Nash Bridges Mr. Switch Episode: "Blood Bots" & "Cat Fight"
Enterprise Klaang Episode: "Broken Bow"
2005 All of Us Bandito Episode: "Creeping with the Enemy"
The Rev Script error: No such module "sort". Television film
2007 Saul of the Mole Men John Henry Script error: No such module "sort".
Recurring cast
2008 Under One Roof Punkin Episode: "Release Therapy"
Chocolate News Otis 'Lighting' Jones Episode: "Episode #1.8"
2009 Nite Tales: The Series Wrestler Episode: "Trapped"
Monster Ark Sergeant Major Gentry Television film
2010 Laugh Track Mash-ups Mr. Oppenheimer Episode: "Ralphie n' Me"
2010–2013 Fish Hooks Mr. Mussels Script error: No such module "Sort".
Recurring cast
10 episodes
2011 Regular Show Bobby Script error: No such module "Sort".
Episode: "My Mom" & "See You There"
2012 FCU: Fact Checkers Unit Tiny Episode: "James Franco Is Preggers"
Key & Peele Driver Episode: "Episode #2.7"
Tiny Is My Girl Sophie Script error: No such module "sort".
Main cast
2013 ' Dallas Episode: "TGI Murder"
The Rev Tiny Starr Script error: No such module "sort".
Main cast
2014 The Boondocks Filbert Slowlove Script error: No such module "Sort".
Episode: "The New Black"
Taylor'd Problems Big T Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"
Johnny Dynamo Mo Lotto Script error: No such module "sort".
2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Major Aikens Episode: "Simon Helberg Wears a Sky Blue Button Down Jeans"
Mann and Wife Lieutenant Marshall Script error: No such module "sort".
Main cast: season 1
On the Court King Cain Script error: No such module "sort".
Recurring cast
Da Jammies Script error: No such module "Sort". (voice) Episode: "Will the Real Dolla..." & "3:10"
Script error: No such module "Sort".

Music videos

Year Title Role Artist
1986 "Man Size Love" Script error: No such module "Sort". Klymaxx
1989 "Happy" The Boys
1992 "Remember the Time" Script error: No such module "Sort". Michael Jackson
1995 "Friday" Script error: No such module "Sort". Ice Cube
1996 "Santeria" Script error: No such module "Sort". Sublime
1997 "Party Ain't A Party" Script error: No such module "Sort". Queen Pen
"Luv 2 Luv Ya" Timbaland & Magoo
1999 "You Can Do It" Ice Cube
2003 "Many Men (Wish Death)" Script error: No such module "Sort". 50 Cent
2006 "Ridin'" Script error: No such module "Sort". Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone
2007 "Put your Locs on" Script error: No such module "Sort". Down AKA Kilo
2011 "Script error: No such module "Sort"." Iggy Azalea
2012 "Script error: No such module "Sort"." Falling In Reverse
"Show Love" Police Officer Chamillionaire feat. D.A.
2013 "Script error: No such module "Sort"." Script error: No such module "Sort". Akon
2014 "Touchdown (Remix)" O.T. Genasis feat. Busta Rhymes and French Montana
2020 "Script error: No such module "Sort"." Script error: No such module "sort".

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2005 50 Cent: Bulletproof Script error: No such module "sort".
Script error: No such module "Sort". 		Script error: No such module "Sort".
2006 Scarface: The World Is Yours Script error: No such module "Sort".
2023 WWE 2K23 Zeus Script error: No such module "sort".

References

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  7. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Template:Trim Template:Replace on YouTubeScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Authority control

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