‘Martin’ actor Thomas Ford dies at 52

Thomas Ford, the actor who played Martin Lawrence’s character’s best friend Tommy Strawn on the hit ‘90s sitcom “Martin,” has died in Atlanta. He was 52.

Family spokeswoman Joy Pervis says Ford died Wednesday. The actor played the level-headed pal of Lawrence on “Martin” for the show’s entire five-year run.

One running joke was his not having a job, prompting the catchphrase: “You don’t got no job, Tommy!”

Ford had other TV parts, notably as Lt. Malcolm Barker on Fox’s “New York Undercover” and as Mel Parker on UPN’s “The Parkers” as well as playing the Pope of Comedy on TV One’s “Who’s Got Jokes” with Bill Bellamy.

Before “Martin,” he landed a spot in the 1989 Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor film “Harlem Nights.”

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour »