Popular actor Jamie Foxx recently took to his Instagram account and posted a tribute for Clarence Avant, widely known as ‘the Black Godfather’ of the entertainment industry, who died aged 92.
Foxx posted a series of pictures and wrote:
“Condolences to the Avant family keeping you in our prayers… Mr Clarence Avant was the worlds mentor he shared his incredible intellect and knowledge to everyone that he interacted with… if you needed a kind word… guidance…or someone just to get your back he was the man….you will be missed terribly… a legend a warrior and a family man…@iamalexavant love you my brother 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾”
Avant’s family confirmed the news and said Avant died ‘gently’ at home in LA on Sunday. Avant’s son-in-law Ted Sarandos, who is Netflix’s co-CEO, and other family members said in a statement that their ‘hearts were heavy’ as they shared the news.
The statement said in full: ‘’Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘the Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports.”
‘’Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss.’’
In 2021, Avant’s wife of 54 years, Jacqueline Avant, was shot and killed in their LA home by an intruder. Not only a trailblazing music executive but also a producer, Avant was the subject of Netflix’s 2019 documentary The Black Godfather.Throughout his storied career, Avant also managed artists including Lalo Schifrin and Little Willie John and promoted Michael Jackson’s Bad tour.
