Tommy Lister Jr.
ActingAbout Tommy Lister Jr.
Tommy "Tiny" Lister (born Thomas Lister, Jr.; June 24, 1958 – December 10, 2020) was a character actor and former wrestler best known for his role as the neighborhood bully Deebo in the Friday series of movies. He also had a short-lived professional wrestling career, wrestling Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) after appearing as "Zeus" in Hogan's movie No Holds Barred. Lister was blind in his right eye. Lister had numerous guest appearances in TV series, including playing Klaang (the first Klingon ever to make contact with humans, not counting Worf in Star Trek: First Contact) in the pilot episode of Star Trek: Enterprise. He also co-starred in an episode of the courtroom series Matlock as Mr. Matlock's in-prison bodyguard. Lister also appeared as Sancho in the music video for Sublime's song "Santeria". He was also in the video for Michael Jackson's song "Remember the Time". He also made a guest appearance in Austin Powers in Goldmember, as a prisoner in the Hard Knock Life spoof.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Tommy Lister Jr. reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Tommy Lister Jr.'s filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 34% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Tommy Lister Jr. remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in On the Court, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Tommy Lister Jr. Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Tommy Lister Jr.'s career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Tommy Lister Jr..
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Zootopia 2 | Finnick (voice) (archive sound) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2022 | Renegades | Apollo | Average | Similar → |
| 2019 | I Got the Hook Up 2 | T-Lay | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | Sunday Morning Rapture | Himself | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | On the Court | King Cain | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Zootopia | Finnick (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Beyond the Game | Tommy | Average | Similar → |
| 2013 | K-11 | Detroit | Average | Similar → |
| 2012 | Heaven's Door | Ben Wilson | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | First Dog | Big Mike | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Holy Water | SixPac Jordan | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Terra Nova | Sewing Dude | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Tattooed Prisoner | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | The Hustle | Dog Thief | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | The Grand | German's Bodyguard | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | One Night with the King | Hegai, the Royal Eunuch | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Forbidden Fruits | Jade | Average | Similar → |
| 2005 | Choices II: The Setup | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Full Clip | Bumaye | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Never Die Alone | Rockie | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Love Chronicles | Alfonso | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Confidence | Harlin | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Austin Powers in Goldmember | Prisoner #2 | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | The Wash | Bear | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Little Nicky | Cassius | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Shark in a Bottle | The Recruiter | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Next Friday | Debo | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies | Tillaver | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Players Club | XL | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Jackie Brown | Winston | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | Gang Related | Cutless Supreme | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Fifth Element | President Lindberg | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | A Thin Line Between Love and Hate | Tyrone | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | House | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Friday | Deebo | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Don Juan DeMarco | Rocco Compton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Against the Wall | Prisoner | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | The Meteor Man | Digit | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Trespass | Cletus | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Universal Soldier | GR55 | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | WWE Survivor Series 1989 | Zeus | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Think Big | Z | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | WWE SummerSlam 1989 | Zeus | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Homer and Eddie | Man in Bar with Gun | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | The Night Before | Bartender | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Prison | Tiny | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II | Orvis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Extreme Prejudice | Monday | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | Armed and Dangerous | Bruno | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Runaway Train | Guard | Hit | Similar → |
Tommy Lister Jr. - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Tommy Lister Jr.?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Tommy Lister Jr. is "On the Court" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Tommy Lister Jr. acted in?
Tommy Lister Jr. has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Tommy Lister Jr.?
Other notable films include "The Dark Knight", "Zootopia", and "WWE Survivor Series 1989".