“Snowfall” star De’Aundre Bonds was recently featured on the popular YouTube series, “The Art of Dialogue” and he opened up about the tragic death of his best friend Lamont Bentley.
Who Is Lamont Bentley?
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lamont Bentley moved to Los Angeles with his mother, who aspired to become a singer.
His natural gift for comedy shone through as he consistently brought laughter to those attending his mother’s auditions.
This encouragement led him to pursue his path in the entertainment industry.
Lamont began his career doing commercials, but eventually began landing acting roles.
He is best known for his role as “Hakeem Campbell” in the hit UPN sitcom, “Moesha,” as well as the spinoff series, “The Parkers.”
Lamont also appeared in several TV shows and movies including “NYPD Blue,” Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story (as Tupac Shakur), The Wash, and Tales from the Hood (alongside De’Aundre Bonds).
Lamont’s Tragic Death
Lamont Bentley was tragically killed in a car accident on January 19, 2005.
The actor had attended a screening in Westwood for a short independent film he was featured in.
Lamont was traveling alone on the 118 Freeway near Simi Valley shortly after midnight.
Witnesses told authorities Lamont headed for the Rocky Peak Fire Road offramp at a high speed.
His Mercedes-Benz ran through a stop sign, tore through a chain-link fence across the street, and rolled down an embankment.
Lamont was ejected from his vehicle into freeway traffic.
Craig Stevens, a senior deputy medical examiner for Ventura County, said Lamont was hit by up to five cars before authorities reached him.
Lamont was declared deceased at 12:23 a.m. A subsequent autopsy determined that the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.
He is survived by his mother and two daughters.
De’Aundre Bonds Remembers His Best Friend
De’Aundre remembered his best friend saying, “I love my brother, man. I love my brother. My best friend. Like one of the realest men I ever met in my life.”
“True. Honest. Down-to-earth. Loyal. Just amazing, bro. If you were his friend…you were his friend,” he added
De’Aundre Bonds also recalled receiving the news of Lamont’s tragic death while behind bars.
When I heard he passed, it was in 05 and I was imprisoned and I called his house and somebody answered the phone crying.
I thought it was him because he’s a jokester. He would play jokes and you’d be like, ‘Man, stop playing! Man, you always playing.’
It was somebody crying like, ‘Lamont is dead!’
I was like, ‘What?!’
Man, I went crazy! Bro, I couldn’t believe that.
Man, I found out over the phone and I thank God that I’ve learned that way instead of being in the cell because the news came on that night he was on the news.
De’Aundre Bonds went on to share how the news of Lamont’s passing caused him to lash out.
I was trying to fight my cellie. I’m trying to antagonize him so I could just hurt something.
You know what I mean?
Because the pain that I was feeling at that time…it wasn’t right.
But, you know I thank God I was locked up and my cellie was a real one because he didn’t bite.
You know I eventually healed a little from it.
He’s always in my heart. I got him tatted on me so…my right-hand man.
Mr. Lamont L Rock Bentley.
Watch As De’Aundre Bonds Opens Up About Lamont
De’Aundre also talked about regretting a scene in the film, Lockdown, and shared that he cried after having to simulate a sex act on another man.
De’Aundre Bonds currently stars in the hit FX Networks’ series, “Snowfall,” and is doing an excellent job in the role of “Terrence ‘Skully‘ Brown,” leader of the Blood gang.
New episodes air every Wednesday at 10 pm on FX and they stream the next day on Hulu.
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