Law & Order: SVU Star Ice-T Pays Tribute To Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister

Actor Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, perhaps best known for playing hulking neighborhood bully Deebo in Friday and the sequel Next Friday, passed away at the age of 62. Law & Order: SVU star Ice-T paid tribute to his dear friend after hearing the news.

Ice-T Honors Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister After His Passing

Lister’s manager, Cindy Cowan, reported the news that he was found unconscious in his home in Marina del Rey on Thursday afternoon and pronounced dead at the scene.

The actor tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year, and although he overcame the virus, last week he had trouble breathing again. While no cause of death has been released yet, Cowan did say that he was once again experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 in recent days.

Ice-T, star and writer of the Friday films, took to his social media to pay respects to him. “I lost another very close friend yesterday,” the actor wrote above a photo of Lister. “My homie Tiny Lister passed away…. I’m speechless. We did many films together and were close personal friends.. RIP Debo.”

The 6-foot-5 Lister started in Hollywood playing the foil to Hulk Hogan in the movie No Holds Barred. He then joined the World Wrestling Federation as the villainous Zeus, a character who battled the popular Hogan in the ring.

Following his stint in wrestling, Lister appeared in films such as The Fifth Element and The Dark Knight and voiced the character Finnick in Zootopia.

He was at work on another movie this year when his illness forced him to cancel shooting. He also has several films currently wrapped that will come out in 2021.

Actor Armie Hammer was among the celebrities who sent condolences by social media.

“Tiny Lister just died…. even #Debo couldn’t scare away 2020,” he wrote. “F– that. I’m watching Friday tonight his honor. Rest in power, big man.”