Ricky Harris

This article is about the actor. For the wrestler, see Black Bart (wrestler). For other people with similar names, see Richard Harris (disambiguation).
Ricky Harris
Born
Richard George Harris II

(1965-10-05)October 5, 1965[1]
Long Beach, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 26, 2016(2016-12-26) (aged 54)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Producer
  • actor
  • comedian
Years active1983–2016
SpouseDee Barnes (divorced)
Children2

Richard George Harris II (October 5, 1965 – December 26, 2016), known professionally as Ricky Harris, was an American producer, actor, and comedian. He was known for his role as Malvo in the UPN/The CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.[2]

Life and career

Harris played his first movie roles in Poetic Justice in 1993 and Murder Was the Case in 1994. He also had minor roles in Michael Mann's 1995 crime film Heat and Mikael Salomon's 1998 action movie Hard Rain.

Harris was the voice of DJ EZ Dicc, TaaDow, and Saul-T-Nutz from various skits featured on albums from Snoop Dogg to Tha Dogg Pound.

In 1993, Harris starred with Todd Hunter in the single episode of 357 Marina del Rey produced for the television series Danger Theatre,[3] playing private detective Clay Gentry.[4] From 1996 to 1998 he played the role of Javon "J. W." Willis in six episodes of the UPN situation comedy Moesha.[5]

In the 2001 film Bones, Harris played alongside Snoop Dogg and Pam Grier.[6]

In 2004, Harris lent his voice to various characters in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In 2007, he played the role of Cousin Fred in the film This Christmas.[7] From 2006 to 2008, Harris played Malvo, a recurring character in the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.[8]

In December 2016, Harris died from a heart attack. He had suffered a previous heart attack two years prior.[9][10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Poetic Justice Gangsta
1995 Tales from the Hood Lil' Deke
Heat Albert Torena
1996 High School High D.J.
1997 Fathers' Day Bellhop
1998 Hard Rain Ray
Kings Trevor Short
1999 Thick as Thieves Rodney
The Breaks Militant Leader
Simon Sez Macro
2001 Bones Eddie Mack
2004 Woman Thou Art Loosed Eli
2005 Boss'n Up Interviewer
2007 The Memory Thief Hearse Driver
This Christmas Cousin Fred
2009 Dough Boys Faze Disco
Mr. Sadman Whitey
2012 Battlefield America Tyrone Jackson Sr.
2013 Mid Life Gangster Donnie
2015 Dope Tannehill James
A Royal Family Holiday Nelson TV movie
Royal Family Christmas Nelson TV movie
2017 Check Point Kenny
2019 The Workout Room Himself

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Danger Theatre Clay Gentry Episode: "Searcher in the Mist/Sex, Lies & Decaf"
1996–98 Moesha J.W. Recurring cast: season 1 & 3, guest: season 2
1997 Millennium Gerome Knox Episode: "Sense and Antisense"
2000 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Disco Placid Episode: "Anonymous"
2001 The District Gregory Episode: "Don't Fence Me In"
NYPD Blue Antoine Episode: "Flight of Fancy"
2002 MDs Randy Stilton Episode: "Time of Death"
2003 Fastlane K-9 Episode: "Defense" & "Offense"
Lucky - Episode: "The Tell"
The Handler Pablo Episode: "Big Stones"
The Tracy Morgan Show Clarence Episode: "Stealing"
2004 CSI: NY Disco Placid Episode: "Grand Master"
NYPD Blue Stanley Newell Episode: "Bale Out"
2005 ER Mr. Davis Episode: "Alone in a Crowd"
2006–08 Everybody Hates Chris Malvo Recurring cast: season 2 & 4, guest: season 3
2007 CSI: Miami Jeremy Broyle Episode: "Miami Confidential"
2008 Raising the Bar Defendant Episode: "Richie Richer"
The Game Claude Episode: "Oh, What a Night"
2009 Dark Blue Wade Episode: "Pilot"
2011 The Cape Homeless Witness Episode: "Kozmo"
2016 The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story Black Bullhorn/Protester Episode: "The Race Card"

Music videos

Year Song Artist Role
1994 "Gin & Juice" Snoop Dogg Father
"Murder Was the Case" Eyewitness/Ta-Dow/Snoop's Father
1995 "Summertime in the LBC" The Dove Shack Old Man

Video games

Year Game Role
2004 "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" Grove Street Families Gang/Ballas Gang/DJ Johnny 'The Love Giant' Parkinson (voice)

References

  1. ^ "Richard George Harris II Obituary (1965-2016)". Legacy.com. 30 December 2016.
  2. ^ Parker, Ryan (2016-12-26). "Ricky Harris, Actor and Comedian, Dies at 54". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  3. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1995). The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (6th ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 238. ISBN 0-345-39736-3.
  4. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows 1925-2010 (2nd ed.). p. 232. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  5. ^ "Comedian Ricky Harris, known for roles in 'Dope' and 'Everybody Hates Chris,' dies at 54". Los Angeles Times. 2016-12-27. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  6. ^ "Snoop Dogg Mourns the Loss of His Friend Ricky Harris". BET. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  7. ^ "Screening:THIS CHRISTMAS". blackfilm.com. 2007. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  8. ^ Miranda, Carolina A. "Comedian Ricky Harris, known for 'Everybody Hates Chris,' dies at 54". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  9. ^ Calvario, Liz (2016-12-27). "Ricky Harris, 'Heat' and 'Dope' Actor, Dies at 54". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  10. ^ Lodderhose, Diana (2016-12-27). "Ricky Harris Dies: Actor & Comedian Was 54". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-04.