Martin Lawrence mourned the loss of his sitcom co-star Tommy Ford on Wednesday, calling Ford “a great man and friend. “I lost a wonderful friend,” he lamented.
“Tommy was not only a great co-star but he was a great man and friend. He always brought with him his spirituality a positive attitude and so much joy,” Lawrence said in a statement provided to TheWrap. “I am sad the world lost a great talent and that I lost a wonderful friend. God bless him and his family.”
Ford died at age 52 in an Atlanta hospital on Wednesday. The actor was placed on life support and hospitalized on Sunday for an aneurysm that ruptured in his abdomen, his wife told TMZ.
“To all family and friends of Tommy Ford. We would like to inform everyone that our brother passed away today October 12, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. Please keep his family in your prayers as they go through this challenging time,” a statement on social media read. “He was so dearly loved by so many and for that lets all be grateful for a life well served.”
Ford was best known for playing Thomas “Tommy” Strawn through all five seasons of the ’90s Fox sitcom “Martin,” starring Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell-Martin.
In addition to “Martin,” Ford he starred on one season of the cop drama “New York Undercover” in the late ’90s and had a recurring role on the Mo’Nique comedy “The Parkers.”
Ford’s film credits included the 1989 Eddie Murphy comedy “Harlem Nights” and the 1990 Brad Pitt track drama “Across the Tracks.”
See tweets from other entertainment stars below.
NOOO! Just hearing about the passing of #TommyFord WOW! My heart is SOO sad RIP my friend! My deepest sympathies n prayers go 2 his family😇 pic.twitter.com/oqT3kaKFpg
— Vivica A. Fox (@MsVivicaFox) October 12, 2016
This is really sad. Way too young. RIP Tommy. https://t.co/VtFm6WtPAo
— Larry Wilmore (@larrywilmore) October 12, 2016
Tommy Ford has transitioned to an ancestor #RestinPower https://t.co/NX4aCVjmB0
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) October 12, 2016
RIP Tommy Ford. Always had a smile on his face.
— Gary Owen (@garyowencomedy) October 12, 2016
RIP Tommy Ford. Always had a smile on his face.
— Gary Owen (@garyowencomedy) October 12, 2016