Tom "Tiny" Lister Jr., who played the character "Deebo" alongside Ice Cube and Chris Tucker in the Friday films, passed away on December 10 at the age of 62. The San Francisco 49ers shared the following tweet shortly after the news of his death.
One of the nicest bullies we've come across. RIP Deebo 🙏
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lister family. pic.twitter.com/6dDdHTOpQa
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 11, 2020
It's fitting as Lister's final posts on Instagram involved a 49ers wide receiver who was named after the famous character he payed in the films — Tyshun Samuel. Although, he's known better to fans as Deebo Samuel.
Lister's post showed him watching a feature on ESPN leading to the 49ers' Monday-night game against the Buffalo Bills. The December 7 post read, "I see You @19problemz. Deebo Samuels Baddest In the Game. S/o to Deebo Samuels."
Earlier in the day, Lister shared another video of himself sitting back and enjoying watching the young 49ers receiver. Like the previous ESPN clip, this one also features Lister in it.
"He gets the blessing, man," Lister told TMZ in October of 2019 after being asked what he thinks about Samuel being named after him. "For his mother to think to name her son Deebo, and he's one of the star wide receivers for the San Francisco 49ers, I'm a big fan of what they're doing up there, man."
Samuel's nickname was actually given to him by his father because a young Samuel would take things and bully the neighborhood kids.