Thomas Jefferson Byrd

Thomas Jefferson Byrd (June 25, 1950 – October 3, 2020) was an American character actor who appeared in several of director Spike Lee's films. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in the 2003 Broadway revival of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Alpha Sigma chapter.

Byrd starred in numerous regional stage productions including the San Diego Repertory Theatre's award-winning performance of Spunk. He also starred in Home by Samm-Art Evans, Two Trains Running, The Piano Lesson and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Alliance Theater, Flyin' West, Hamlet and Miss Evers' Boys at the Indiana Repertory, and in other productions of Flyin' West at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and at the Long Wharf Theatre. On October 24, 2023, Rhynes was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated assault in connection with Byrd's death, with 10 years suspended. He will be released no later than October 16, 2030.

Work Film Year Title Role Notes1995 Clockers Errol Barnes 1996 Girl 6 Caller #18 1996 Get on the Bus Evan Thomas Sr. 1996 Set It Off Luther 1997 Touch Me Country Doctor 1998 He Got Game Sweetness 1998 Bulworth Uncle Rafeeq 2000 Trois Thomas 2000 Bamboozled Honeycutt 2001 MacArthur Park Cody 2002 Never Get Outta the Boat William Ellis 2002 The Kudzu Christmas Reverend Burton 2004 X, Y Marcus 2004 Ray Jimmy 2009 Brooklyn's Finest Uncle Jeb 2010 Bronx Paradise Jimmy 2012 Red Hook Summer Deacon Zee 2014 Da Sweet Blood of Jesus Bishop Zee 2015 Chi-Raq Apollo 2022 Freedom's Path Abner Posthumous release; Final film role

Television

Theatre Year Title Role