William Byrd; Deaf Actor Had Roles in TV, Films

William Byrd, a deaf actor best known for his role as the disc jockey Danny in “Children of a Lesser God,” has died of heart failure at the age of 27.

Byrd died July 21 in Inglewood, Paramount Pictures publicist Allison Jackson announced Thursday.

Despite his role in the highly acclaimed 1986 film about deaf youth, the well-trained young actor had trouble finding work.

“In this business, they are afraid to take risks, whether you are black or white,” Byrd told The Times in 1988. “And, of course, it’s harder if you’re black and deaf.”

Byrd, who read lips, used sign language and spoke clearly, had small parts on such television series as “Houston Knights,” “A Man Called Hawk” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Born in Kansas City, Byrd grew up in Inglewood, where he spent most of his time in his late grandmother’s Golden Oldies record shop. Able to hear lower frequencies and vibrations of bass and drums, he fell in love with the music and became her sales clerk.

“I wanted to be an actor and a musician,” he said. “I wanted to experiment, play all types of music--rock, pop, funk, punk.”

Despite his lofty aspirations, Byrd had a troubled time in the Los Angeles public schools he attended.

“I wanted to act, I wanted to play music,” he repeated. “They kept saying ‘You can’t do that. You’re deaf.’ ”

Byrd’s life got on track when he attended the Model Secondary School for the Deaf and earned a degree in drama at Gallaudet College, a school in Washington, D.C., for the hearing-impaired with a widely respected theater program.

He played the role of Jesus in a student production of “Godspell,” which toured Europe for six weeks.

Byrd is survived by his mother, Thelma, and his sister, Tabara.

Services are scheduled for noon today at Crenshaw United Methodist Church, 3740 Don Felipe Drive.