The Hip Hop community is sadly reminded that 2016 isn’t officially over losing beloved entertainers. Comedian, actor, and producer Ricky Harris died of a sudden heart attack on Tuesday (December 26), according to Okayplayer and confirmed by his family on social media. He was 54.
Harris is widely known to rap fans for his hilarious cameo appearances as a 1970s gold tooth-capped nightclub owner in Snoop Dogg’s “Doggy Dogg World” video and Snoop’s grey-haired father in “Gin and Juice.” He’s notably remembered for his roles as the faux radio host DJ EZ Dicc and Saul-T-Nuts on WBALLZ radio station for the skits on Snoop’s “Aint No Fun (If The Homies Cant Have None)” and “Tha Shiznit” off his landmark debut Doggystyle and on Tha Dogg Pound’s seminal LP Dogg Food.
The funnyman originated his character on Ice Cube’s “Turn Off The Radio” from his 1990 solo debut album Amerikkka’s Most Wanted.
AD LOADING...
https://youtu.be/dH34Ny3Wogs
Harris’ other notable appearances on the silver screen were in Poetic Justice, Heat, Dope, and This Christmas. Harris also had TV roles on NYPD Blue, CSI: Miami, Everybody Hates Chris and The People Vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
The comedian began his career at the Comedy Act Theatre in the Crenshaw section of Los Angeles in the late 1980s, where he used to deejay. Comedy legend Robin Harris was the MC of the club, and also gave Ricky his start performing on stage in the same schedule as other 1980s chitlin circuit comics including Robert Townsend, Steve Harvey, Eddie Murphy, Cedric The Entertainer and Sinbad. Ricky is most known for performing on 1990s comedy staples Def Comedy Jam and BET’s Comic View.
https://youtu.be/JxFMjsq4q4U
AD LOADING...
Left Coast legends such as Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Big Tray Dee, Kurupt and Daz Dillinger of Tha Dogg Pound, and DJ Pooh posted their condolences on Instagram and Twitter upon the sad news of their longtime friend’s passing. Also, Questlove, Chuck D and Kid Capri tweeted their personal memories about Harris, and comedy favorites J.B. Smoove and Cedric The Entertainer spoke on his legacy.
HipHopDX sends our condolences to the Harris family and friends for the loss of the talented comic.
