Ricky Harris obit

Ricky Harris, Actor and Comedian, Dies at 54

Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube paid their respects on social media. 

He was not on the list.

Actor and comedian Ricky Harris has died, The Hollywood Reporter was told by his manager, Cindy Ambers. He was 54.

Harris, whose numerous credits in television and on film include Heat, Poetic Justice and Everyone Hates Chris, died Monday of a heart attack, Ambers said. 

Harris also worked with Snoop Dogg on his rap albums. Snoop, Ice Cube and Chuck D, among many others, paid their respects on social media.

Harris, an actor, comedian, and producer who played the recurring character Malvo on the Chris Rock-based sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris," died Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 54.

Harris performed comedy routines on "Def Comedy Jam." He also did skits on albums by his childhood friend, Snoop Dogg. They grew up in Long Beach, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.

On TV, Harris played roles on "Moesha," "The People v. O.J. Simpson," "The Tracy Morgan Show," "Everybody Hates Chris," and "American Crime Story."

He appeared in films including "Poetic Justice," Michael Mann's "Heat," and "Dope."

Many friends of Harris took to social media to express their condolences.

"He was a real dear friend of mine," said Snoop Dogg in a video posted on Instagram. "Ricky Harris, rest in peace. Long Beach original."

Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Broadus, asked his followers to say prayers "for my big brother" and "Long Beach finest."

The musician Questlove also posted an Instagram message, saying Harris "showed us so much love."

Questlove noted the 2016 deaths of a wealth of actors, musicians, and other entertainers.

"2016 man keeps taking and taking and taking. I'm not joking at all when I wonder aloud about is this the rapture happening and maybe my life isn't right and I'm stuck on earth w ol orange crush at the wheel. Do we have the strength to even...hang on? Cause who are we kidding is 2017 all that safe? Hold on be strong y'all. Seriously."

Harris, who was born in 1962, is survived by two daughters and his mother.

Filmography

Film

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1993    Poetic Justice   Gangsta          

1995    Tales from the Hood   Lil' Deke        

Heat     Albert Torena 

1996    High School High       D.J.     

1997    Fathers' Day    Bellhop           

1998    Hard Rain        Ray     

Kings   Trevor  Short

1999    Thick as Thieves         Rodney           

The Breaks      Militant Leader          

Simon Sez       Macro 

2001    Bones  Eddie Mack    

2004    Woman Thou Art Loosed        Eli       

2005    Boss'n Up        Interviewer     

2007    The Memory Thief      Hearse Driver 

This Christmas            Cousin Fred    

2009    Dough Boys    Faze Disco     

Mr. Sadman     Whitey

2012    Battlefield America     Tyrone Jackson Sr.     

2013    Mid Life Gangster       Donnie

2015    Dope   Tannehill James          

A Royal Family Holiday         Nelson TV movie

Royal Family Christmas         Nelson TV movie

2017    Check Point     Kenny

2019    The Workout Room    Himself           

Television

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1993    Danger Theatre           Clay Gentry     Episode: "Searcher in the Mist/Sex, Lies & Decaf"

1996–98          Moesha            J.W.     Recurring cast: season 1 & 3, guest: season 2

1997    Millennium      Gerome Knox Episode: "Sense and Antisense"

2000    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation          Disco Placid    Episode: "Anonymous"

2001    The District     Gregory           Episode: "Don't Fence Me In"

NYPD Blue     Antoine           Episode: "Flight of Fancy"

2002    MDs    Randy Stilton  Episode: "Time of Death"

2003    Fastlane           K-9      Episode: "Defense" & "Offense"

Lucky  -           Episode: "The Tell"

The Handler    Pablo   Episode: "Big Stones"

The Tracy Morgan Show        Clarence          Episode: "Stealing"

2004    CSI: NY          Disco Placid    Episode: "Grand Master"

NYPD Blue     Stanley Newell            Episode: "Bale Out"

2005    ER       Mr. Davis        Episode: "Alone in a Crowd"

2006–08          Everybody Hates Chris           Malvo  Recurring cast: season 2 & 4, guest: season 3

2007    CSI: Miami      Jeremy Broyle Episode: "Miami Confidential"

2008    Raising the Bar           Defendant        Episode: "Richie Richer"

The Game       Claude Episode: "Oh, What a Night"

2009    Dark Blue        Wade   Episode: "Pilot"

2011    The Cape         Homeless Witness       Episode: "Kozmo"

2016    The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story Black Bullhorn/Protester         Episode: "The Race Card"

Music videos

Year     Song    Artist   Role

1994    "Gin & Juice"  Snoop Dogg    Father

"Murder Was the Case"          Eyewitness/Ta-Dow/Snoop's Father

1995    "Summertime in the LBC"     The Dove Shack         Old Man

Video games

Year     Game   Role     Notes

2004    Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas          Grove Street Families Gang, Ballas Gang, Master Sounds 98.3 DJ Johnny "The Love Giant" Parkinson (voice)        

2021    Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition       Archival recordings

Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only