Shad Gaspard
Shad Javier Gaspard (January 13, 1981 – May 17, 2020) was an American professional wrestler and actor. He was best known for his time with WWE, where he performed under his real name, or mononymously as Shad.
Shad Gaspard | |
|---|---|
Gaspard in 2016 | |
| Born | January 13, 1981 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 17, 2020 (aged 39) Los Angeles, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Siliana Gaspard (m. 2009) |
| Children | 1 |
| Ring name(s) | Da Beast Shad Shad Gaspard |
| Billed height | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) |
| Billed weight | 295 lb (134 kg) |
| Billed from | Brooklyn, New York |
| Trained by | Ohio Valley Wrestling Rocky Johnson Al Snow DeWayne Bruce |
| Debut | 2003 |
Gaspard signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2003, where he was assigned to their developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and was a two-time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion with JTG, as part of Cryme Tyme. In 2006, Cryme Tyme was promoted to WWE's main roster, before both Gaspard and JTG were released from the company the following year. Cryme Tyme returned to WWE in 2008, but Gaspard was released again in 2010.
After departing WWE, Gaspard pursued an acting career that included several films and television roles, such as Think Like a Man Too, Get Hard, The Game, and From Dusk till Dawn: The Series. He was also the co-creator of the 2011 graphic novel Assassin & Son and provided motion capture for video games, most notably for the protagonist Kratos in the 2018 game God of War.
Gaspard drowned while trying to save his son on May 17, 2020. As a result of his heroic efforts, he was posthumously awarded the Warrior Award at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2022.