We’ll Always Remember the Man Behind Deebo, King of the Bullies
Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister could have gone through life playing heavies and villains, but his gift was finding the vulnerability in the bluster
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After news broke Thursday that Tommy “Tiny” Lister had passed away at age 62, the word “Deebo” began trending almost immediately. Of course it did. Lister’s performance as the South Central bully in 1995’s Friday is one of the iconic roles in Black cinema. But while that role may define his legacy, Lister had already established himself as an actor able to elevate the bully archetype far above a stock trope.
’80s babies knew Lister long before Deebo ever stole Red’s chain. He’d given us nightmares as Hulk Hogan’s foil in their 1989 movie No Holds Barred — a performance that crossed over onto actual WWE main events on Saturday nights. Lister’s role as Zeus was as one-dimensional as they come, but his intimidating power was apparent. You can’t overestimate what it took to seem able to take down Hulk Hogan at the height of Hulkamania — without speaking a word. That’s how devastating Lister’s presence was.
A good portrayal of a…
