Thomas Jefferson Byrd

Thomas Jefferson Byrd (June 25, 1950 – October 3, 2020) was an American character actor known for his work in several of director Spike Lee's films. He received critical acclaim for his performance in the 2003 Broadway revival of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Byrd earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Morris Brown College and a Master of Fine Arts degree in dance from California Institute of the Arts. He was a member of the Alpha Sigma chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Byrd also had a successful career in regional stage productions, including notable performances in Spunk, Home, Two Trains Running, The Piano Lesson, Flyin' West, Hamlet, and Miss Evers' Boys.