Spike Lee Honors Late HE GOT GAME & CLOCKERS Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd

Spike Lee Honors Late He Got Clockers” Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd

Spike Lee payed tribute to the late actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd Sunday on Instagram, who starred in many of the director’s films including Clockers, He Got Game and Red Hook Summer.

In his post Lee revealed that Byrd was murdered Saturday night in Atlanta, Georgia. He shared a photo of Thomas as the character Errol Barnes in his 1995 film, Clockers. “I’m So Sad To Announce The Tragic Murder Of Our Beloved Brother Thomas Jefferson Byrd Last Night In Atlanta, Georgia … Tom Is My Guy.”

Lee shared that Byrd starred in a variety of his films including Chi-Raq, Clockers, Sweet Blood of Jesus, Red Hook Summer, Bamboozled, He Got Game, Get On the Bus and Girl 6. 

“May We All Wish Condolences And Blessings To His Family. Rest In Peace Brother Byrd,” Lee said.

Though Lee did not provide any more details into Byrd’s death, the director payed tribute to him by sharing footage of Byrd from Clockers, in which Lee says the actor portrayed the “Dope Fiend Character Errol Barnes.” He also shared a video of Byrd from one of his favorite scenes in Clockers.

Aside from Lee’s films, Byrd was nominated for a best actor Tony Award in 2003 for his role in the revival of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Following Lee’s tribute, comedian Jay Washington also took to social media to say he had “the honor of working with Mr. Byrd on Chi-Raq. “Rest in Peace to the legendary Thomas Jefferson Byrd,” he wrote alongside a photo of him with Lee and Byrd. “I had the honor of working with Mr. Byrd in CHI-RAQ but enjoyed much of his work SHES GOTTA HAVE IT, SET IT OFF, … in BAMBOOZLED and so much more.

The Atlanta Police Department reported that officers were dispatched around 1:45 A.M. Saturday morning on a report of a person injured. “Upon arrival, units located a male lying unresponsive at the location. Grady EMS responded to the scene and pronounced the male deceased from multiple gunshot wounds to the back. The victim was later identified as Thomas Byrd,” the department stated.

Byrd’s death is now under investigation with homicide detectives working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, reported the Atlanta Police Department. Law enforcement officials also say that current information is preliminary and may change as the investigation progresses.

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