{"id":81764,"date":"2020-10-05T03:21:08","date_gmt":"2020-10-05T00:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/thomas-jefferson-byrd-known-for-spike-lee-films-killed\/"},"modified":"2020-10-05T03:21:08","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T00:21:08","slug":"thomas-jefferson-byrd-known-for-spike-lee-films-killed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/thomas-jefferson-byrd-known-for-spike-lee-films-killed\/","title":{"rendered":"#Thomas Jefferson Byrd, known for Spike Lee films, killed"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Thomas Jefferson Byrd, known for Spike Lee films, killed<\/strong>”
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\n ATLANTA \u2014 Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd, known for his roles in Spike Lee films, has been shot and killed in Atlanta, police said Sunday.<\/p>\n

Police responded to a call around 1:45 a.m. Saturday and found the 70-year-old Byrd unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds in his back, police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Responding paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene on the city\u2019s southwest side, where he lived.<\/p>\n

Grant said homicide detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and declined to provide further details.<\/p>\n

In an Instagram post Sunday<\/a>, Lee said he was sad to announce Byrd\u2019s death and recalled how the actor \u201cdid his thang\u201d in his films including \u201cClockers,\u201d \u201cChi-Raq,\u201d \u201cBamboozled,\u201d \u201cHe Got Game<\/a>\u201d and \u201cDa Sweet Blood of Jesus,\u201d among others.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay we all wish condolences and blessings to his family,\u201d Lee wrote. \u201cRest in peace, Brother Byrd.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee also shared some of his favorite scenes with Byrd from \u201cClockers\u201d and \u201cBamboozled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Byrd, also a stage actor, was nominated in 2003 for a Tony for his performance in the Broadway revival of \u201cMa Rainey\u2019s Black Bottom,\u201d co-starring Whoopi Goldberg and Charles S. Dutton.<\/p>\n

Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis tweeted<\/a>: \u201cOh no!!! 2020! Whaaattt!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLoved working with you Byrd,\u201d she wrote. \u201cWhat a fine actor you were. So sorry your life ended this way. Praying for your family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Byrd was a \u201cbrilliant dancer, actor, and friend,\u201d Elisabeth Omilami, a fellow actor and community activist, told WXIA-TV in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a special person whose personality filled up the whole room when he entered you knew he was there,\u201d she said. \u201cHe fought his way through this very racist and difficult Hollywood system and was able to maintain a career through it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said Byrd had just recently finished his last film, \u201cFreedom\u2019s Path,\u201d with her husband, actor Afemo Omilami.<\/p>\n

Actor Lori Petty tweeted<\/a>: \u201cWhat a man, what a talent \u2026 what a crazy loss.\u201d\n <\/div>\n