Brother "Tommy" Ford Passes Away, Best Known for TV's 'Martin'

Actor, producer, director and Brother Thomas Mikal "Tommy" Ford passed to the celestial lodge Wednesday afternoon in an Atlanta hospital. He is best known for his five years starring as the character of 'Tommy Strawn' in the 1990s sitcom, Martin, with Martin Lawrence. 

He was just 52.

In Martin, Ford's character was generally the straight man for Lawrence's jokes, but he often stole scenes with his trademark "bald-headed logic" and funny comments in odd situations. After Martin ended, he also appeared in New York Undercover, The Jamie Foxx Show, and The Parkers. He had recently completed directing a documentary about bullying.

Brother Ford had just undergone a routine knee replacement surgery in late September. He was admitted to the hospital Sunday after an aneurysm ruptured in his abdomen, his wife Gina Ford told TMZ. He was placed on life support Sunday, never recovered, and he passed away Wednesday afternoon. 

According to the American Heart Association, an aneurysm occurs when part of an artery wall weakens, allowing it to widen abnormally or balloon out.

Brother Ford was made a Mason "at sight" by MW Grand Master Norman L. Campbell of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C. on April 30, 2016.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of many community programs and causes. The video below features him at this year's Prince Hall Masonic Classic scholarship event at Howard University sponsored by the MWPH Grand Lodge of DC.

His column is broken, and his brethren mourn. 

Requiescat in pace.