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Ricky Harris, the Voice Behind Some of Your Favorite Hip-Hop Skits, Has DiedActor and comedian Ricky Harris has reportedly died at the age of 54. According to OkayPlayer, he passed away after suffering a heart attack; friends and family confirmed his death on social media Monday.Harris’ extensive work included roles in films like Heat, Dope, and This Christmas, as well as TV series such as CSI: Miami, NYPD Blue, and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story; however, hip-hop heads are most familiar with his contributions to some of the most popular rap records. He was the man behind the legendary voice characters DJ EZ Dicc, TaaDow, and Saul-T-Nutz in albums by Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg PoundHe also lent his signature voice to Ice Cube’s “Turn Off the Radio” track from AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. Famed producer Sir Jinx touched on Harris’ involvement in the record during an interview in Brian Coleman’s book Check The Technique Vol 2.“The radio voice guy on there also did ‘W-Balls’ for Dogg Pound [Author’s note: ‘W-Balls’ from Snoop Doggy Dogg’s Doggystyle, from 1993], his name is Ricky Harris,” Jinx explained. “He did all the stuff like that for Snoop. That dude got very popular for talking like that, so when Dre went over to Death Row, he had a job.”Throughout Monday, Harris' friends and colleagues expressed their condolences on Twitter and Instagram. Everyone from Snoop and Questlove to Sinbad and Cedric the Entertainer paid tribute to the multi-hyphenate. Rip Ricky Harris 😡 pic.twitter.com/yJGUDLQHXY — DJ POOH (@DJPooh) December 26, 2016 Devastated!!! #RIP to the One and Only #RickyHarris Always been a super solid dude https://t.co/XPUQqx5sia — CedricTheEntertainer (@CedEntertainer) December 27, 2016 ricky harris - Google Search i can't believe this ! RIP Ricky https://t.co/Rld8LaUkfk — Sinbad (@sinbadbad) December 27, 2016 I can't believe my friend passed away today,,, I made history with this dude on Def comedy jam, toured the country together #rickyharris pic.twitter.com/ijslWVGkcn — THE REAL KID CAPRI (@kidcapri101) December 27, 2016 RIP Ricky Harris. 😞 — Estelle (@EstelleDarlings) December 27, 2016 Comedians... We give a piece of ourselves everytime we step on a stage. You are appreciated. Rest in Heaven Ricky Harris. #RIP #RickyHarris — JB Smoove (@ohsnapjbsmoove) December 27, 2016 RIP Ricky Harris Dam this crazy please send prayers out for his family wow this hurts man. https://t.co/so0DgowKY2 — Warren G (@regulator) December 27, 2016 REST N PEACE TO MY BROTHER MY FRIEND MY HOMEY RICKYHARRIS MUCH 💙💯 https://t.co/Scbpa0GFGY
Ricky Harris, Heat actor and comedian, dies aged 54Ricky Harris: ‘the first entertainer from Long Beach to make it,’ according to his friend Snoop Dogg. The actor and comedian Ricky Harris, who made a name for himself as a standup comedian in the 90s and onscreen in films such as Michael Mann’s heist classic Heat, has died aged 54.The star’s manager confirmed his death on Monday and peers of the performer, including Snoop Dogg and Cedric the Entertainer, paid tribute to him on social media. The cause of his death has not been confirmed, but his manager told the Los Angeles Times that he suffered a heart attack two years ago.Harris was from Long Beach, California, and was a close friend of Snoop Dogg, featuring on his albums, on which he performed skits. Snoop Dogg said: “I lost one of my dear friends today. [He] was the first comedian to make it from Long Beach, the first entertainer from Long Beach to make it. My big brother.”Harris was a regular on the Russell Simmons-produced Def Comedy Jam, with the likes of Chris Rock and Chris Tucker, who led the new generation of African American comics that emerged in the 90s.Harris’s acting career began with Poetic Justice in 1993, in which he starred alongside Tupac Shakur and Janet Jackson, and two years later he appeared in Heat with Al Pacino.Harris also had roles on the small screen, appearing on Everybody Hates Chris and Moesha, and last year he made an appearance in the Sundance favourite Dope.The contemporary funk artist Dam Funk wrote about Harris’s little-known musical past on his Instagram page. Funk said he used to play drums for Harris’s band, which he would use on comedy nights, and said Harris also appeared in a G-funk group called the Dove Shack and another group called the Ghetto Clownz.