Comedian Ricky Harris, known for roles in ‘Dope’ and ‘Everybody Hates Chris,’ dies at 54

Ricky Harris, a comedian known for both his racy stand-up act and his appearances in family-friendly fare such as the TV series “Everybody Hates Chris,� died Monday, his manager said. He was 54.

The cause was not immediately known. But Harris’ manager, Cindy Ambers of Art/Work Entertainment, said Harris had suffered a heart attack two years ago.

Fellow performers posted condolences on social media, including comedians Sinbad and Cedric the Entertainer — the latter of whom Tweeted: “Devastated!!! #RIP to the One and Only #RickyHarris.�

Harris, the son of a preacher, was raised in Long Beach. He made a name for himself as a performer on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam� in the 1990s with a pop culture-inflected routine that touched on subjects such as horror movie sound effects and movie sex.

He made his acting debut in the 1993 drama “Poetic Justice,� which starred Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. Two years later he appeared in “Heat,� a heist film directed by Michael Mann.

Harris appeared on TV series such as “Moesha� and Chris Rock’s “Everybody Hates Chris,� where he played the charming neighborhood ne’er-do-well, Malvo. Other recent appearances included roles on the 2015 dramedy “Dope� and “The Tracy Morgan Show.�

Sign up for our weekly Essential Arts & Culture newsletter »

Harris was also known for doing raunchy skits on the albums of rapper Snoop Dogg, a childhood friend from Long Beach. (The pair sang in their church choir together.)

Snoop Dogg posted a short, mournful video to Instagram calling the actor “my big brother, my homeboy� and a “Long Beach original� — saying that he was “on his way to heaven now.�

Harris is survived by his mother, his ex-wife and two daughters.

[email protected]

Find me on Twitter @cmonstah.

ALSO

Man killed in crash after high-speed pursuit in South L.A.

Suspect shot after attempting to ram car into Riverside officers, police say

‘Brendon didn’t have to die’: Family of Venice man killed by LAPD says they’re left grieving and wondering