It was with a heavy heart that the family of Thomas Mikal Ford announced his death this morning.
The recognizable actor was best known for his turn as Tommy Strawn on the hit sitcom Martin. He was born in Yonkers, New York, but eventually took his passion for acting to the University of Southern California, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting. The character of Strawn was known to be the straight man to Martin (Martin Lawrence)’s hijinks, providing great comedic support to the entire cast. The role even won him a NAACP Image Award nomination for his classic portrayal of Strawn.
After Martin came to an end, Ford continued to act and found his new home in The Parkers and New York Undercover.
In a report by The Fader, news of the actor and friend’s death has caused many of his former costars to voice their support. Martin Lawrence, who worked with Ford for quite some time during his sitcom, Tweeted his condolences earlier today:
Ford passed away at the age of 52, and it’s been reported that the actor had received the services of life support after an aneurysm ruptured in his abdomen. Former costar Carl Payne visited Ford’s bedside before Ford’s family decided to turn off the mechanical support. Our condolences go out to Ford’s family at this time, but we can take comfort in his notable performances in Martin.