Jamie Foxx pays tribute to ‘Django Unchained’ actor, dead at 53

Keith Jefferson, an actor who appeared in a plethora of Quentin Tarantino films, most notably “Django Unchained,” Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” and “The Hateful Eight” has died.

The Houston, Texas native, who was battling cancer, was 53.

On Thursday, Jamie Foxx announced the news of his longtime friend and co-star’s death on Instagram, writing that “this one hurts.”

“Keith, you’ve been nothing but absolute grace, your whole life your heart is pure your love is immeasurable you were an amazing soul,” Foxx, 55 wrote in the post that he shared with his 17 million followers,

“We will all miss you dearly. It’s gonna take a long time for this to heal,” Foxx added. “Goodbye, my friend. I love you.”

Throughout his career, Jefferson earned industry credits as producer, voiceover artist and acting coach. He first worked with Foxx in 1998, when he appeared in two episodes of the “The Jamie Foxx Show.”

An hour later Foxx shared another snap on Instagram of the two in happier times, posing in front of a private jet.

“Everything hurts right now having a hard time looking through these pictures reliving the memories of us having a great time going to miss you man gonna miss you,” Foxx said in the second post. “[E]ver since we met back in college, you have been in incredible soul God rest, NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO SEE THE WORDS ABOUT MY FRIEND RIP @keith.jefferson Keith 💔💔💔💔.”

Back in August, Jefferson revealed that made his battle with cancer public and thanked Foxx, calling him one of his “best friends in the entire world.”

“Every now and then God will give you a challenge and leave it up to you to fix it. When I was first diagnosed with cancer I had to stop, pause , and didn’t want to share with anyone,” he shared in a post on Instagram. “Not my family nor extended family. Today I’m finally at a place to share because my faith is getting stronger. I have a loving family and the best friends in the entire world. You know who you are. From my Mom to J Foxx and everybody in between. I love you whole heartedly. We are cut from the same cloth and that cloth is the human condition. Remember…’faith is the last thing you can lose.’ I’m not about to lose that 🙏🏾 💪🏾 👊🏾❤️ .”

Jefferson was born to Lovie and the late Reverend Edward Jefferson, according to his bio on IMBD. He received a BFA in musical theatre from US International University/Performing Arts in San Diego, then an MFA in Acting from The University of Arizona in Tucson.

His touring and regional theatre credits include Jim in “Big River,” the title role in “Othello,” Officer James Bailey in “Superior Donuts” and the Reverend Avery Johnson in the “Piano Lesson” to name a few.

In 2015 he taught an acting workshop at the Ah Haa School for the Arts for both adults and teenagers in Telluride, Colorado.

“There are a lot of advanced actors who have talent and skills but don’t know how to market themselves,” Jefferson said. “The workshop covers a wide range of abilities; novice, intermediate or advanced, there’s something you can grab from each phase of the workshop for your own craft and your own use in life.”

“Even at this stage in my career,” he added, “you never stop learning.”  

Jefferson’s final role will be in Foxx’s latest movie, “The Burial,” co-starring Tommy Lee Jones, Jurnee Smollett and Alan Ruck.