Thomas Mikal Ford

Thomas Mikal Ford (September 5, 1964 – October 12, 2016) was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his role as Thomas "Tommy" Strawn in the sitcom Martin, which originally aired from 1992 until 1997. He also had a recurring role as Mel Parker in the sitcom The Parkers from 1999 until 2001. He also was known for his role as Lt. Malcolm Barker on New York Undercover.

Early life and education Ford was born in Los Angeles and raised in Long Beach, California. His mother worked as a school secretary and his father as a pipe-fitter. As a child, Ford wanted to be a preacher. When he took drama lessons and started acting in high school plays, he decided to go into acting instead. After earning an Associate of Arts from Long Beach City College in 1985, Ford transferred to the University of Southern California, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting.

After Martin ended, Ford found success in the detective drama New York Undercover as Lieutenant Malcolm Barker. He appeared in the sitcom The Parkers in the recurring role of Nikki's ex-husband and Kim's father, Mel Parker, in seven episodes. He played Ben Cummings in The Power of Passion as one of the characters whose wife cheats on him with the pastor. He was also known as "The Pope of Comedy", due to exposure as a judge in TV One's comedy competition show Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes? In 1997, he played Detective Siegel in the crime drama Against the Law.

In 1993, Ford directed and produced the play South of Where We Live, about six African-American professionals who return to the communities where they were raised and learn about the social issues that now exist. The play was performed at the Los Angeles Ebony Showcase Theatre, the oldest black theater in the country.

Ford co-hosted the Texas Gospel Music Awards in 1993 with singer Yolanda Adams and actor Troy Curvey. In 1998, Ford founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization named Be Still and Know. The organization's mission was to build better communities for youth.

Ford wrote two inspirational books for children, titled Positive Attitude and I Am Responsible for Me. Ford spent time traveling to schools to inspire and empower children, and encourage responsibility. In June 2016 (four months before his death), Ford directed a documentary on bullying, entitled Through My Lens Atl; it aired in October 2016, on Aspire TV.

Personal life and death Ford was married to Gina Sasso from 1997 to 2014. They had two children. Ford moved from Los Angeles to Kendall, Florida around 2001. In 2015, Ford moved to Atlanta where he lived with his girlfriend Viviane Brazil.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 Deathly Realities Hubert/Dr. Russell Short 1989 Nasty Boys Payday TV movie Harlem Nights Tommy Smalls 1990 Q&A Lubin Across the Tracks Coach Walsh 1991 The Butcher's Wife Transvestite 1992 Brain Donors Cop Class Act Mink Night and the City Herman 1993 Mr. Jones Arnie/Violent Patient 1995 The Kangaroo - 1997 Against the Law Det. Siegel 2000 His Woman, His Wife - Video 2004 He Say... She Say... But What Does GOD Say? Deacon Witherspoon Video 2005 On the Low Ron Davis Short Hitched Gideon TV movie 2007 City Teacher - 2008 The Club Rev. Holmes Short Stitches Train Station Man Short 2009 Love Ain't Suppose to Hurt 2: The Wedding Eugene Video 2010 Baby Mama's Club James 2012 Sugar Mommas Quinton TV movie Switchin' the Script Mr. Bostick The Good Ole Days Renaldo The Fate of Love Jason To Love and to Cherish Steve TV movie No More Games Hunter The Chronicles of Nathan Gregory Mr. Sereph Short A Boost of Love Security Guard Short Hillbilly Highway Detective Smith 2013 Who Did I Marry? Terrance Dreams Detective Jackson The Perfekt Plan Bone Short In the Meantime Clay TV movie Douglass U Mr. Johnson At Mamu's Feet Raymond Gaines 2014 4Play Nathaniel For Love or Money Russell Where's the Love? Husband #1 TV movie Unspoken Words Terrance Could This Be Love Carvin First Impression Tommy Breeze Mr. Thomas Her Eyez Harvey Short In God's Hands Pastor Frank TV movie Big Losers Jamaican Hard Worker 2015 Blaq Gold Judge Andrew Billups TV movie Every Family Has Problems Jerome 2016 Love Different Mr. Chamberlain Addiction by Subtraction Mr. James Video Wounded Father Lawton Short Blues for Life Detective Jones The Last Time Chief Winston Beat Street Chief Carey Sommers Video 2017 Conflict of Interest Jordan Winters The Ballerina Etienne Magloire 2018 Fade Away Fingers He Watches Over Me James

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Kate & Allie Cop Episode: "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" 1989 A Different World Lamar Collins Episode: "The Thing About Women" Booker Mickey Maxwell Episode: "Wheels and Deals: Part 1" 1990 Nasty Boys Payday Episode: "The Good, the Bad, and the Nasty" Singer & Sons Reggie Patterson Main Cast Equal Justice Ernie Pearl Episode: "Separate Lives" Law & Order Harry Pincher Episode: "The Reaper's Helper" Uncle Buck Rafer Freeman Recurring Cast 1991 The Flash Elliot Cotrell Episode: "Beat the Clock" Baby Talk Newborn Baby (voice) Episode: "Womb with a View" Veronica Clare - Episode: "Slow Violence" MacGyver Concasseur Episode: "Walking Dead" 1992–97 Martin Thomas "Tommy" Strawn Main Cast 1993 Living Single Michael Edwards Episode: "Whose Date Is It Anyway?" 1998–99 New York Undercover Lt. Malcolm Barker Main Cast: Season 4 1999 The Jamie Foxx Show Marcus Episode: "Homie, Lover, Friend" 1999–2001 The Parkers Mel Parker Recurring Cast: Season 1–2 2000 The Pretender Pastor Jones Episode: "Ghosts from the Past" 2001 Judging Amy Mr. Crow Episode: "Redheaded Stepchild" 2002 The Proud Family Mr. Webb (voice) Episode: "I Had a Dream" 2006–08 Who's Got Jokes? Pope of Comedy Recurring Cast 2007 House Scott Episode: "Family" 2010 Lens on Talent Train Station Man Episode: "Comedy and Producing a Film" 2011 Templeton Pride Carter Franklin Episode: "Open for Business" Let's Stay Together Minister Episode: "Together, Forever-Ever?" 2016 Zoe Ever After James Johnson Episode: "2 Weddings and an Ass Whooping" 2017 Beauty and the Baller - Recurring Cast