Raymond Hall/FilmMagic(NEW YORK) — Spike Lee is among the many who are mourning the death of actor Bill Nunn.
The actor, who passed away Saturday at age 63, was battling cancer.
Nunn first came to notice for starring as Radio Raheem in Lee’s 1989 film, Do the Right Thing.
The film follows what happens in a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the year as racial tensions rose and ended in a police riot. Radio Raheem died in the film after being choked by police.
On Saturday, Lee took to Instagram to remember the man whom he called a “dear friend.”
In part, Lee wrote in a caption, “RADIO RAHEEM Is Now RESTING IN POWER. RADIO RAHEEM WILL ALWAYS BE FIGHTING DA POWERS DAT BE. MAY GOD WATCH OVER BILL NUNN.”
The famed filmmaker also shared a photo of the shoes Radio Raheem wore as he died at the hands of police.
In a subsequent Instagram post, Lee shared a mural of Radio Raheem along with a poem by Brooklyn spoken word artist Lemon Andersen.
It reads in part, “…And then there was Radio Raheem, Flat top, tight fade, Built like an ’89 NY Giant, The Majestic Brother you could hear two blocks away in any direction pumping Public Enemy from the horns of his Ghetto Blaster, the Conscience brother who wanted nothing but to be alone and live in the loud solace of his Radio…”
Nunn also starred in Spike Lee’s film He Got Game. He had over 70 film and television credits, including roles in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films. He most recently was seen as one of the stars of the USA series Sirens.
Nunn is survived by his wife Donna and their two daughters, Cydney and Jessica.
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