Thomas Jefferson Byrd murdered in Atlanta

Spike Lee pays tribute

by Jennie Kermode

Thomas Jefferson Byrd in Clockers
Thomas Jefferson Byrd in Clockers

Thomas Jefferson Byrd, star of Clockers and He Got Game, has been shot dead in Atlanta, Georgia, according to a police statement. Paramedics reported that he had multiple gunshot wounds but at present nothing else is known about the incident.

Byrd, 70, spent almost three decades as a film actor, appearing in films like Ray, Bamboozled, Brooklyn's Finest and Chi-Raq as well as carving out an impressive career on the stage. He had a lengthy working relationship with Spike Lee, who described him as a beloved brother.

Byrd's last role was in US Civil War drama Freedom's Path, which is expected to be released next year.

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