'Martin' actor Tommy Ford dies at 52

Oke News-Thomas "Tommy" Ford, the actor who played Martin Lawrence's best friend Tommy Strawn on the hit '90s sitcomMartin, died Wednesday in Atlanta. He was 52.

The actor played the level-headed pal of Lawrence on Martin for the show's entire five-year run. One running joke was his not having a job, prompting the catchphrase: "You don't got no job, Tommy!" "It is with great sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved son, father, brother, husband and friend Tommy Mykal Ford," the family said in a statement posted on his social media accounts. "On behalf of the family, we would like to thank everyone for their love, support and prayers."

Family spokeswoman Joy Pervis confirmed Ford's death but gave no cause.

TMZ and the photo agency Getty Images reported that Ford's family announced over the weekend that he was on life support after an aneurysm burst in his abdomen.

Ford had other TV parts, notably as Lieutenant Malcolm Barker on Fox's New York Undercover and Mel Parker on UPN'sThe Parkers, as well as playing the Pope of Comedy on TV One's Who's Got Jokes with Bill Bellamy.

Actor Tomy Ford

Several celebrities paid homage to Ford through social media, including Cedric the Entertainer, Rickey Smiley, LL Cool J and Larry Wilmore. Earlier Wednesday, his friend, actor Anthony Anderson, tweeted that Ford had died; that was followed by another tweet declaring that he wasn't dead but on life support.

Read more on site http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2016/10/12/martin-actor-tommy-ford-dies-52/91974992/