Reginald Ballard, known to millions as Bruh Man from “Martin,” is opening up about his longtime friendship with Thomas Mikal Ford, better known as Tommy, and the shocking connection that tied their careers together long before the iconic sitcom.
Ballard explains that he and Tommy actually met years earlier while filming “Class Act.” During a break on set, Ballard told Tommy how he earned his SAG card in the most unlikely way. Early in his career, he took a stand-in job for the movie “I Love You to Death.” The actor he was covering never arrived, and when Ballard began speaking during the scene, director Lawrence Kasdan saw something in him and handed him a contract on the spot. That moment changed his life.
Tommy listened and surprised him with a truth that stopped Ballard in his tracks. He admitted he was the actor who didn’t show up that day. Tommy had been busy filming “Harlem Nights,” which opened the door for Ballard to get his big break. From that moment, their friendship became something deeper.
Ballard also remembers visiting Tommy’s home and seeing an elevator inside, joking that Tommy must have done very well during the “Martin” years. But beyond the success, he describes him as warm, calm, funny, and consistently supportive. He says Tommy never clashed with anyone and always stayed grounded.
The most emotional part of the conversation comes when Ballard recalls the day Tommy passed away. He had just seen him in Baltimore when Tommy came out to support one of his comedy shows. Not long after, Ballard received a call saying, “We lost Tommy today.” The news hit him hard. Ballard says Tommy was one of the few people he could turn to when he needed advice or encouragement.
He goes on to share what he heard about the medical circumstances surrounding Tommy’s passing. Tommy was in the hospital for what seemed like a routine knee replacement. While there, he reportedly suffered a stomach aneurysm and didn’t survive. The situation frightened Ballard, especially because he had another friend who died after knee-related surgery when a blood clot traveled to his brain. The back-to-back tragedies made him nervous about ever getting knee surgery himself.
Even through the sadness, Ballard celebrates the joy Tommy brought to others. He says Tommy never had a bad word for anyone and always kept people laughing. One moment that still stands out is the “Nino Brown” episode from “Martin.” Production originally planned to use a real dog, but union restrictions shut that down. Martin Lawrence improvised with a stuffed dog, and Tommy couldn’t stop laughing. Ballard calls it one of his favorite episodes because everyone struggled to keep a straight face.
Ballard also breaks down the rules that make filming with kids and animals complicated. Children have strict schooling requirements, and animals must be protected and approved before stepping on set. That day, those rules forced production to rethink everything.
Through every story, Ballard paints a picture of a man who was loved, respected, and gone far too soon.
