Zeus has died aged 62 (Picture: WWE)
Actor and wrestler Tommy Lister Jr – higher identified to WWE followers has Zeus – has died and the trade is mourning the loss.
The Friday and Fifth Element star first stepped into the wrestling world when he confronted Hulk Hogan in 1989 film No Holds Barred, earlier than making a transfer into the squared circle.
In a press release, WWE stated: ‘WWE is saddened to be taught that Tom ‘Tiny’ Lister, often known as Zeus to the WWE Universe, handed away immediately at age 62.’
As Zeus, Lister teamed up with ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage towards Hogan and Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake at SummerSlam, and the 2 rivals would additionally compete for reverse groups at Survivor Sequence.
The feud pitting Zeus and Savage towards Hogan and Beefcake resulted in a Metal Chair Match at No Maintain’s Barred in December 1989, whereas his ultimate WWE look got here the following month within the Royal Rumble.
He would go on to make sporadic appearances on the unbiased scene, together with WWC in 1990, earlier than having a brief stint – once more towards Hogan – in WCW as Z-Gangsta.
All Elite Wrestling tweeted: ‘AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of Thomas ‘Tiny’ Lister, Jr, our ideas are along with his household, his associates and his followers.’
And IMPACT Wrestling star Cody Deaner wrote: ‘I used to be completely petrified of Zeus as a child. Terrified.
‘He went on to play many iconic roles. However to me and my wrestler mind… he’ll at all times be Zeus. The person who terrified me. #RipTinyLister’
Former WWE star Shane ‘The Hurricane’ Helms added: ‘Dammit!! From Zeus to Deebo to President Lindberg, dude performed some iconic roles. Thanks for all of the leisure.’
The actor was discovered useless on Thursday by police who carried out a welfare verify at his condominium in Marina Del Rey, California, after associates grew to become nervous about him.
In keeping with TMZ, associates and enterprise associates of Lister had not heard from the star since Wednesday.
Whereas his explanation for dying has but to be decided, Lister’s supervisor Cindy Cowan stated that he had been experiencing ‘Covid signs’ for every week.
