UPDATED Aug. 22, 2008 – One of the most memorable villains in Black film history has died of complications from pancreatic cancer.

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Julius Carry, III, who terrorized the Black karate hero of Harlem “Bruce Leroy” in Berry Gordy’s campy The Last Dragon, is best remembered as the character Sho’Nuff. His co-starring 1985 appearance, along with singers Vanity and the group DeBarge, helped create a presence for actors in several independent Black films that followed well into the ‘90s.

According to Carry's mother, the Rev. Helen Carry, executive minister of Christ Universal Temple in Chicago's West Pullman neighborhood, he died of complications from pancreatic cancer, the Chicago Tribune reports.  He was 56.

The Chicago native had a TV and film career that lasted almost three decades in which he landed a steady stream of acting job on TV shows including "The Jeffersons,” “Family Matters,” “JAG” and “The Unit.

But it was his role as Sho'nuff, accompanied by his wild, frizzed-out ’fro and outlandish version of samurai gear, demanding to know from his followers, "Who da mastah?" to which they respond, "Sho'nuff!" that he became most famous for.

Carry is survived by his wife, Naomi; a brother, Ronald; and his mother, the Rev. Helen Carry.

Services are being arranged.

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