Thomas Jefferson Byrd death: Spike Lee and Viola Davis lead tribute to actor who was shot dead

Byrd’s colleagues have hailed star as a ‘fine actor’ who was ‘brave and funny’

Spike Lee and Viola Davis have led celebrity tributes to Thomas Jefferson Byrd, the actor who was shot dead in Atlanta on Sunday (4 October).

The 70-year-old star, who was best known for his work with director Lee, died of multiple gunshot wounds in the early hours of yesterday morning, the Atlanta Police Department confirmed.

Byrd was a long-time collaborator of Lee’s, working with the filmmaker on eight movies from 1995 to 2015, including Clockers, Girl 6 and Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.

He was also a renowned theatre actor, earning a Tony nomination in 2003 for his Broadway debut in a revival of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Paying tribute to Byrd, Lee wrote on Instagram that he was “so sad”, adding: “Tom Is My Guy… May We All Wish Condolences And Blessings To His Family. Rest In Peace Brother Byrd.”

Davis added: “Oh no!!! 2020! Whaaattt!!! Loved working with you Byrd. What a fine actor you were.  So sorry your life ended this way. Praying for your family. So very sorry.”

Wendell Pierce tweeted: “Thomas Jefferson Byrd was an actor in the unofficial repertory company of Spike Lee movies. What Joseph Cotton was to Orson Welles, Byrd was for Spike. The ‘everyman’ character actor. He was a part of the Black Arts Renaissance of Fort Greene in the 80s.”

Pierce noted he had the “honour” of sharing the screen with Byrd in Get On The Bus and Ray.

'Get On the Bus' (Rex Features)

“Byrd was brave, funny, creative, country, smooth, expressive, and a joy to be around,” he added.

“He will be remembered for those iconic moments in films that make up a unique canon in American cinema. Another soulful brother gone.”

Comedian Jay Washington tweeted: “Rest In Peace to the legendary Thomas Jefferson Byrd… I had the honour of working with Mr. Byrd in CHI-RAQ.”

“Such a tragedy,” added Perez Hilton.

Police found Byrd after responding to a call about an injured person at a residence in Georgia city.

Emergency services were called to the scene, where they identified the actor and declared him dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the back.

The police department said homicide detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.