HBO’s ‘Oz’ Star Granville Adams Dead At 58 After Cancer Battle

Granville Adams, Star Of Prison Drama ‘Oz,’ Dies After Cancer Battle

Granville Adams, the actor best known for his role as Zahir Arif in HBO’s prison drama “Oz,” has died after a battle with cancer.

“Oz” showrunner and executive producer Tom Fontana confirmed the sad news on Sunday saying, “Goodnight, sweet prince/and flights of angels sing thee to they rest,” Fontana wrote under a photo of Adams.

“Oz” co-star Kirk Acevedo in the HBO series also paid his condolences on Twitter, writing: “I lost my brotha today after a long battle with cancer, I don’t do well with loss because I’m unfamiliar with it. Yo Granny we’ll be chopping it up on the other side one day,” Acevedo continued. “Until then… Rest easy my friend.”

Last year, Adams announced he was battling cancer on Instagram when he shared a photo of himself from a hospital bed.

As his health started to deteriorate, Fontana and actor Dean Richards started a GoFundMe page in January of this year to support the actor who had not been “able to work for the past year.”

“Not only does he have to battle this ruthless disease, but now he has to fend off the hospital bills the insurance company refuses to pay,” the GoFundMe read. It went past its fundraising goal of $69,550 and has currently raised $99,982.

Adams starred in 48 “Oz” episodes from 1997 to 2003. From there he played Officer Jeff Westby in “Homicide: Life on the Street” and later appeared in “Homicide: The Movie” in 2000. Adams is survived by his wife, Christina.