49ers’ Samuel mourns his namesake

‘Friday’ actor Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister dies at age of 62, inspired Niners star’s nickname

Deebo Samuel, the physical San Francisco 49ers wide receiver fans have grown to love, was born with a different name: Tyshun. But his mischievous nature as a kid earned him the nickname inspired by Deebo, the bully-type character from the “Friday” films.

So when Tommy “Tiny” Lister, the actor who portrayed Deebo, died Thursday at age 62, Samuel went into mourning. The receiver posted broken hearts over a photo of Lister on his Instagram story.

“... It was a blessing meeting you and getting to know you for sure. Rest up big bro,”

another Instagram story from Samuel read.

Samuel and Lister met at Levi’s Stadium during an ESPN special last season, where Lister surprised Samuel mid-interview with a surprising depth of knowledge of Samuel’s football career and rookie campaign.

“I wouldn’t say that he did stuff all the time, but you know, he was mischievous at times,” Precious Martin, Deebo’s stepmom, told ESPN about

Samuel’s wild-child behavior. “He did little stuff.”

Samuel said his nickname stuck in Little League. In the ESPN feature, Ice Cube — writer and star of “Friday”, portraying Craig Jones in the 1995 film — articulated what the nickname carries.

“Deebo is that quintessential bully that everyone has encountered at one

point in his life,” he said.

Samuel’s parents christened their son with the nickname, and it stuck with Samuel throughout his childhood.

“Wherever I took Deebo, I don’t care who was around, anybody’s kids, whatever they got, he’s going to take it,” Galen Samuel, Deebo’s father, said in the interview.

The 49ers posted a tribute to Lister, who was found unconscious at his home in Marina Del Rey and pronounced dead at the scene.

JOHN SALANGSANG — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE Tommy “Tiny” Lister greets fans as he arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of “Straight Outta Compton” at the Microsoft Theater in August 2015. Lister, a former wrestler who was known for his Deebo character in the “Friday” films, has died. He was 62.

NHAT V. MEYER — BAY AREA NEWS GROUP, FILE Deebo Samuel (19) heads off the field following the 49ers’ win over the Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara in November 2019.

THEARON W. HENDERSON — GETTY IMAGES San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel warms up prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium on Nov. 24, 2019, in Santa Clara.