In
Martin, Ford played Tommy Strawn; for this role, he received an
NAACP Image Awards nomination in 1996 in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. After
Martin ended, Ford found success in the detective drama
New York Undercover as Lieutenant Malcolm Barker. He appeared in the sitcom
The Parkers in the recurring role of Nikki's ex-husband and Kim's father, Mel Parker, in seven episodes. He played Ben Cummings in
The Power of Passion as one of the characters whose wife cheats on him with the pastor. He was also known as "The Pope of Comedy", due to exposure as a judge in
TV One's comedy competition show ''
Bill Bellamy's Who's Got Jokes? In 1997, he played Detective Siegel in the crime drama Against the Law''. In 1993, Ford directed and produced the play
South of Where We Live, about six African-American professionals who return to the communities where they were raised and learn about the social issues that now exist. The play was performed at the Los Angeles
Ebony Showcase Theatre, the oldest black theater in the country. Ford co-hosted the Texas Gospel Music Awards in 1993 with singer
Yolanda Adams and actor Troy Curvey. In 1998, Ford founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization named Be Still and Know. The organization's mission was to build better communities for youth. Ford wrote two inspirational books for children, titled
Positive Attitude and
I Am Responsible for Me. Ford spent time traveling to schools to inspire and empower children, and encourage responsibility. In June 2016 (four months before his death), Ford directed a documentary on bullying, entitled
Through My Lens Atl; it aired in October 2016, on Aspire TV. ==Personal life and death==