Tom Lister Jr.

Tom Lister Jr.’s Quiet Corner of Animation History

The name Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr. carries weight in Hollywood well beyond any single genre. Standing 6’5″ and built like a force of nature, Lister spent decades carving out a career as one of cinema’s most recognizable character actors – the kind of performer directors called when a scene needed gravitas, danger, or sheer physical presence. His transition into voice work was a natural evolution, one that allowed his deep, commanding baritone to carry characters that his frame never could have played in live action.

Born on June 24, 1958, in Compton, California, Lister came up the hard way – visually impaired from birth in his right eye due to a deformed and detached retina, he channeled his energy into athletics. That drive earned him a scholarship to California State University, Los Angeles, where he became the 1982 NCAA Division II National Shot Put Champion with a throw exceeding 61 feet. The same competitive instinct followed him straight into entertainment.

From the Ring to the Recording Booth

Before acting, Lister made a name for himself in professional wrestling under the ring name “Zeus,” stepping into the WWF alongside Hulk Hogan following his role in the 1989 film No Holds Barred. When the wrestling chapter closed in the mid-1990s, his acting career was already building momentum. His breakthrough as the neighborhood tough Deebo in Friday (1995) became the role that defined him for a generation – raw, threatening, and oddly comedic in equal measure. President Lindberg in The Fifth Element (1997) added a layer of unexpected authority to his screen persona.

Voice work entered the picture through Disney’s animated TV series Fish Hooks, where Lister voiced the character Mr. Mussels – a role that showed his ability to bring humor and weight to animation without relying on his physical presence. Around the same time, he lent his voice to Bobby in Regular Show, racking up a small but sharp animation resume that reflected the breadth of projects he was willing to take on.

Finnick and the Zootopia Legacy

The role that secured his place in animation history arrived with Zootopia in 2016. Cast as Finnick – a tiny, fast-talking fennec fox whose disguise as a wide-eyed toddler masked a calculating street con – Lister delivered one of the film’s best running jokes. The comedy came entirely from contrast: a small, wide-eyed fox with a deep, gravelly voice belonging to a full-grown adult. Lister played it without winking at the audience, and that restraint made it land every time.

The legacy of that performance outlasted Lister himself. After his death on December 10, 2020, at the age of 62 in Marina del Rey, California, Disney approached his family about bringing Finnick back for Zootopia 2. With their blessing, archival recordings from the original film were used to reprise the character – a tribute both to the role and to the man behind it. Zootopia 2 director Jared Bush confirmed the arrangement publicly, making clear that the family’s consent and gratitude shaped how the tribute was handled.

A Career Built on Character

Lister’s voice work sits at the edge of a career that touched nearly every corner of American entertainment – film, television, wrestling, and animation. He appeared in roughly 132 films over his career, alongside directors like Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown) and Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight). His voice roles were fewer in number but no less memorable; each one carried the same authenticity he brought to his on-screen work.

Outside of entertainment, Lister and his wife Felicia ministered across the country, reaching out to troubled youth and speaking in churches and schools. The same intensity he brought to playing antagonists offscreen reflected a genuine investment in community and faith – a side of him that rarely made headlines but defined much of his later life.

Most Known Roles of Tom Lister Jr.

• Finnick – Zootopia (2016 Film)
• Mr. Mussels – Fish Hooks (2010 TV Series)
• Bobby – Regular Show (2011 TV Series)
• Finnick – Zootopia 2 (2025 Film, archival recordings)