Thomas “Tiny” Lister, who portrayed “Zeus” in WWF, has passed away at 62.
TMZ Sports was the first to report the news. Lister was found unconscious Thursday afternoon around 3 p.m. in his Marina Del Rey, California apartment and pronounced dead at the scene. There is no word on the cause of death.
Lister was known for playing “Zeus” in the 1989 movie “No Holds Barred,” which also starred Hulk Hogan. This movie role would translate into a WWF storyline where Lister, also appearing as Zeus, teamed with Randy Savage to take on Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake.
After his final WWF appearance at the 1990 Royal Rumble, Lister would periodically appear in wrestling, notably for World Wrestling Council in a feud with Abdullah the Butcher. In 1996, he would debut for WCW as Z-Gangsta as part of the Alliance to End Hulkamania, but this was another short lived stint.
Lister was best known for playing Deebo, the neighborhood bully in the movie Friday starring Ice Cube. He was also in the pilot episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, and featured in such movies as Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Dark Knight, and The Fifth Element.
On behalf of the staff of Wrestleview, we extend our condolences to the family and friends of Thomas “Tiny” Lister.