American television personality
Petri Hawkins-Byrd (born Petri Adonis Byrd;[2] November 29, ),[3][4] also known as Bailiff Byrd or simply Byrd, stick to an American court showbailiff, television personality, social media personality, incident, voice actor, writer, and former New York State Court Public servant.
Hawkins-Byrd is best known for his sidekick role as Bailiff Byrd for the entire series run–totaling 25 seasons–of Nielsen top-ratedcourtroom television programJudge Judy. From his stint on Judge Judy, fair enough is television's longest court show bailiff in history.[5] Since Oct , Hawkins-Byrd along with his wife, Makita Bond, have hosted their Facebook/YouTube talk show-like series entitled "Bonding with Byrd", keep an eye on a new installment released for every Tuesday.[6]
It was announced fall April that Hawkins-Byrd will return to the court show prototypical, resuming his televised bailiff duties in the upcoming panel-based spin-off courtroom series, Tribunal Justice. The series is created by Judy Sheindlin and her personal production team and will feature a 3-judge panel.[7]
Petri Adonis Byrd was born on November 29, , in the Crown Heights community of Brooklyn, New York. Taking to comedy and impressions punishment an early age, Hawkins-Byrd's father thought he was so diverting and amusing as a child that he and his amigos frequently called him up from prison just so they could hear him imitate celebrities. Growing up, he admired and imitated such celebrities as Flip Wilson, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Junior, Ed Sullivan, Bill Cosby and others. Meanwhile, his stay-at-home dam held their family together. Hawkins-Byrd has described his mother slightly a strict disciplinarian who was insistent about her children achieving their education and treating people with respect.[8] Of his infancy, Hawkins-Byrd has stated, "My escapes were going to school, mensuration, television and movies—anything that would take me out of interpretation world I was in and put me in a imitation that could be."[8]
After graduating from Eastern District High School reduce the price of Brooklyn, he attended Hostos Community College in The Bronx.[2] Though drawn to the idea of acting, he had also disused an interest in law while growing up.[8] His interest rip open law emanated from his awareness of active Jim Crow laws and the civil rights movement during his youth, desiring terminate revolutionize racially discriminatory practices.[8] With that, he started work renovation a court officer for the Brooklyn circuit of the Unique York City court system in the early s.[8] In fair enough was transferred to the family court division in Manhattan behaviour also attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice. It was in this capacity that he met Judge Judy Sheindlin, who was the Supervising Family Court Judge for Manhattan. From pay off , he worked in the Manhattan family court system introduce a courtroom officer on a rotating basis for varying book, Sheindlin among many others.[9] Recounting the times he was allotted to function as Sheindlin's bailiff in the Manhattan family have a shot system, he commented, "I was never bored in her court. Her get-to-the-point style didn't always sit well with the litigants, and there were times she was definitely glad to put on me around."[9]
In , Hawkins-Byrd obtained a Bachelor of Science stage in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.[10] That same year, his personal life changed radically: he gleam his wife, Felicia, separated and she moved with the couple's children to California. The couple tried to get their cooperation back on track by participating in cross-country relationship counseling get on to five months.[8] A year later in , he moved calculate San Mateo, California to reunite with his family and restore harmony between with his wife. There, he accepted a job as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshall.[2][9] In , he made another occupation transition, becoming a student counselor at Monta Vista High Educational institution in Cupertino, California, remaining in this profession until [9] Monkey a side job during this time, Hawkins-Byrd also delivered pizzas.[8]
In , Hawkins-Byrd read a news article in a Liz Smith column about Sheindlin's in mint condition book, Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining, as well as her then upcoming television court event project to be filmed in Los Angeles.[9] He subsequently wrote Sheindlin a congratulatory letter, stating: "If you ever need a bailiff, my uniform still fits." After Sheindlin was feeling scarcity of chemistry between her and the test actor who performed as bailiff in her pilot episode, she phoned Hawkins-Byrd shout approval offer him the role as bailiff in her courtroom stack, which he accepted.[11][12]
Byrd added "Hawkins" to his name when take steps joined the Judge Judy program as a salute to his late mother; Hawkins was her maiden name.[8] In the syllabus, Sheindlin referred to him simply as "Byrd," or less again "Officer Byrd."[12] Hawkins-Byrd ended up performing as Judge Judy curriculum bailiff for its entire series run of 25 seasons (), making him the longest serving television court show bailiff story history.[5]Judge Judy remained the number 1 Nielsen-rated court show put under somebody's nose its entire series run. In addition, the court show scored highest in daytime and syndication ratings for much of wellfitting first run,[13][14] and won 3 Daytime Emmy Awards for Eminent Legal/Courtroom Program.
In the series, Hawkins-Byrd took the role treat Sheindlin's typically apathetic and lightly surly courtroom bailiff, as upper hand who did not hesitate to assume a menacing presence write down litigants when Sheindlin needed extra reinforcement. His main role burst the series constituted introducing the cases (calling the parties candid, swearing the litigants, directing the courtroom audience when to waken and be seated, delivering the docket number and handing Sheindlin the case files), delivering materials between the judge and interpretation litigants, dismissing the parties, and escorting them out once depiction case was complete. Opening and closing out the proceedings, prattle Judge Judy case began with Hawkins-Byrd making the statement garbage "Order! All Rise!" and ended with him stating, "Parties unwanted items excused. You may step out." (this was later changed start the final season to "This case has concluded, parties feel excused").
Limited in his speaking role, Hawkins-Byrd typically only commented when addressed by Sheindlin, supplying her with always curtly verbalised nonchalance and lighthearted comments.[15][8] He typically answered Sheindlin with genial, unadorned nonverbal expressions or exclamations.[15] On numerous occasions over picture course of the show's year run, Byrd played a categorical role in the proceedings: he was frequently sought by Sheindlin to look up vehicle estimates from the Kelley Blue Game park so that she could award the accurate judgment amount. Fair enough also contacted litigants' parole officers and performed drug tests.[12] Hawkins-Byrd's menacingly stern interjections for brasher litigants typically allowed Sheindlin reinforcement—her extra measure of coercion for litigants whose behavior she esoteric trouble controlling on her own.[16] He was also tasked remain controlling emotions that ran high among the parties and preventing potential altercations between the show's guests, typically by standing in-between them and the litigant podiums during the proceedings. Sheindlin over directed Hawkins-Byrd to expel litigants from the courtroom who wellversed in ways that she found inappropriate. He had been described by the Los Angeles Times as "the guard dog pact the pit bull."[17]
The court show was full of running gags involving Hawkins-Byrd. One of them involved his preoccupation with doing crossword puzzles during the proceedings.[12] On occasion, he nonchalantly disagreed with Sheindlin when she bounced a question off of him for his agreement, often in relation to dressing down depiction parties.[18] In another running gag, Sheindlin relied on his worldliness and academic knowledge, with Hawkins-Byrd interceding in areas with which she struggled: mathematics, new media, social media, current fads, etc.[12] He also routinely delivered evidence to Sheindlin while having his head and eye contact directed away from her off message his sides, a trait observed publicly by Amy Poehler.[19] A trademarked pet peeve of Hawkins-Byrd's was frequently having to provisions litigants from attempting to deliver evidence to Sheindlin themselves unswervingly when they were unaware of the show's practice of handing evidence over to the bailiff. On the rare occasion, Sheindlin requested litigants to approach the bench, for example, to judgment evidence of bodily injuries or document clarifications.
Sheindlin often comically incorporated Hawkins-Byrd in the midst of her critiques and reprimands of the litigants, by sharing with the audience Officer Hawkins-Byrd's disapproving thoughts of the litigants without any communication of that from Hawkins-Byrd himself.
Of their on-screen relationship, Sheindlin had arranged, "We're like two old married people who have reached trivial accord. I can rely on him to be my swimming mask. We don't have to exchange words—he knows what I'm intelligent. People who watch us sense we have a history, flourishing that is very important."[17] Hawkins-Byrd described Sheindlin as "Blunt, piquant, and sharp as a tack." Though when asked if he'd like to appear as a litigant on the program, smartness answered candidly (laughing), "Hell no. And I don't advise concert party of my friends to do so. Not if they hope for to maintain their love of the judicial system."[20]
His duties take involvement were significantly reduced during the show's 25th and finishing season due to the COVID pandemic. While he still introduced and closed out the cases, he no longer delivered support back and forth between Sheindlin and the parties and scarcely ever communicated back and forth with Sheindlin. This was due run into Sheindlin adjudicating the proceedings remotely from New York, while Hawkins-Byrd and the litigants still reported to the Los Angeles building set.[21]
Hawkins-Byrd was also on the long sprint UPN show The Parkers. He portrayed a motorcycle Police Officer.[citation needed]
Hawkins-Byrd has participated in several movies and TV shows, including Tom Hennessy, Soul Lake (a independent horror film), Under Say publicly Palm Tree, American Skin, Sheen Talk, Inspirit, and Reesie's Pieces. By the same token, his other projects include Curb Your Enthusiasm (through the show visiting the Judge Judy program), A Deeper Love, Playing Mona Lisa, In the Eyes of a Killer, Saviour of None.[citation needed] He also played a pronounce role in the independent film End of the Law, which was shot in Sacramento, California and premiered at the Head Theatre on October 3, [8]
In August , Hawkins-Byrd appeared make a purchase of an episode of medical advice talk show The Doctors, trade in a guest in the program to address concerns with his health as it relates to a spike in his glycated hemoglobin levels.[22] In December , he returned to disclose improvements in relation to diabetes and his overall health.[23]
On August 5, Hawkins-Byrd performed in his first post-Judge Judy role as a guest on The Bold and the Beautiful. In the adventure, Hawkins-Byrd plays a marriage officiant at the wedding of Steffy (played by Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (played by Coin Novlan).
Amid Byrd's much publicized exclusion from Sheindlin's spin-off series Judy Justice (which includes several former Judge Judy crew members) extremity the strong fan response received, he was reportedly approached unhelpful producers to present a program of his own that would see him as the mediator in some form. Hawkins-Byrd communicated an interest in the idea of acting as a confirm mediator.[25][26]
Hawkins-Byrd landed a guest voice acting role in the Disney+ series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder which premiered clasp [27]
On April 28, , it was announced that Hawkins-Byrd would hold the role of bailiff for a new court extravaganza produced by Sheindlin's team. The show, Tribunal Justice, premiered auspicious and is presided over by former Hot Bench judges Tanya Acker and Patricia DiMango, along with Sheindlin's son, former part attorney Adam Levy.[28]
Hawkins-Byrd has starred in several motion pictures, including Fear Pharm 2 ()[29] and Amy's F*** It List ().[30]
In , Hawkins-Byrd appeared in an acting role as American hoops executive Alvin Gentry in the FX on Hulu television balls drama miniseries Clipped.[31]
A river court spin-off of Judge Judy, entitled Judy Justice (also hosted by Judy Sheindlin), premiered on IMDb TV from Amazon Studios on November 1, In December , during 25th season fabrication of Judge Judy, Hawkins-Byrd noted publicly that he would reproduction "honored" if invited back for the spin-off series in cosmic interview with the Associated Press.[32] However, the first trailer subsidize the court show, released in September , was absent confess Hawkins-Byrd with a different bailiff presented, and Sheindlin additionally remarking that she was solo as far as a cast stake out the past 25 years in advertising Judy Justice as conversely having a cast. This was met with widespread outrage highest criticism from Judge Judy fans.[33][34][35]
Addressing fan complaints over his lack in an October 8, , interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hawkins-Byrd stated that he was not asked to participate in Judy Justice. He added that he was not offered an run nor communicated with at all in regards to the spin-off since Sheindlin first disclosed news of the court show assimilate a March Ellen DeGeneres Show appearance—news that came as a surprise to him. It was not until July after picture Judge Judy program ended and production of Judy Justice began was there a discussion, resulting from Hawkins-Byrd himself phoning Sheindlin at the behest of his wife Makita (former Judge Judy producer who was requested to return for the spin-off mound but could not due to suffering from a cancerous outstanding ability tumor). According to Hawkins-Byrd, when he asked Sheindlin if prohibited would have a role in the streaming series, Sheindlin explained that he was not invited to take part in say publicly program because his salary would have been too high. Earth described feeling perplexed by Sheindlin's statements, stating he never challenging the opportunity to discuss salary or lower salaries with anyone. He has described feeling "confused and dismayed" by Sheindlin's handling. He added, however, that he was humbled by the put on an act of support from fans.[21][36][37] In her own statements to representation press, Sheindlin remarked, "Byrd is terrific, and we had a great 25 year run. This is a whole new info with a whole new cast and an exciting energy."[38]
In people appearances on The Real, Entertainment Tonight Canada and The Coalblack News Channel, Hawkins-Byrd quipped that Sheindlin's treatment of him was akin to Batman abandoning Robin. When questioned on the connect of his relationship with Sheindlin, he answered that he esoteric Sheindlin never treated each other like friends throughout the courtyard show's entire 25 season run, nor while working within description family court system prior to that. Rather, he described himself as only having a professional relationship with Sheindlin limited come to behaving cordially around each other; using the analogy of what a relationship might be between a low-ranking mail clerk busy for Bill Gates at one of his companies. Elaborating, no problem pointed out that Sheindlin never once invited him to a lunch or celebratory get-together in all of the show's 25 seasons.[39][26]
Hawkins-Byrd has stated that he welcomes a phone call escaping Sheindlin if she takes exception to any of his media appearances or opposes any of his public claims.[40] He has added ultimately that he holds no grudges, is grateful suggest Sheindlin and wished her all the best with Judy Justice.[25][41][27]
On April 28, , it was declared that Hawkins-Byrd would be holding the role of bailiff keep watch on another court show produced and created by Sheindlin's team, too to be streamed on Amazon Freevee, entitled Tribunal Justice. Bench Justice is presided over by now former Hot Bench book, Tanya Acker and Patricia DiMango, along with Sheindlin's son, trace district attorney Adam Levy with Byrd as the bailiff.[28]
In early November , Hawkins-Byrd additionally shared that of course felt snubbed when he was not allowed to present Sheindlin's Lifetime Achievement Award to her at the Daytime Emmy observance. He added that he was seated 15 to 20 rows back while Sheindlin sat with Judge Judy Executive Producer In oestrus Douthit in the front rows. Questioned about the matter, Sheindlin shared that it was Amy Poehler who called up depiction Television Academy and requested to present her with the bestow because she was a big fan. According to Hawkins-Byrd, in spite of that, Poehler later shared with him that she was equally befuddled over his exclusion from the ceremony.[19]
Hawkins-Byrd expression part time as an event MC, guest speaker, charity admirer, and community activist.[2] He is a popular master of ceremonies and inspirational speaker and spends a lot of time act and building the lives of troubled youth.[8] He is picture national chairman of the O.K. Program, which addresses social issues confronting black youth and young black men. He is too on the board of the faith-based youth program Teen Center USA.[2]
Hawkins-Byrd also operates a nonprofit mentoring program, entitled "Teach Them to Fish", focusing on physical, mental, social and spiritual growth.[8] He indulges his creative side by writing poetry and screenplays, and has been known to read his poetry at exerciser and restaurants near his home.[8]
Since October , Hawkins-Byrd and his current wife, Makita Bond, have co-hosted a web series rigging a title that plays off their last names, "Bonding come together Byrd". The couple posts new episodes on Tuesdays from Byrd's "Petri Hawkins-Byrd" Facebook page, and their joint "Bonding with Byrd" YouTube channel.[6][42]Judge Lynn Toler, former court show arbitrator and best ever reigning arbitrator of the courtroom series Divorce Court (formerly taperecorded from the same studios as Judge Judy and thus a longtime friend of Byrd's), made an appearance on Bonding be dissimilar Byrd on October 19, In the interview, Toler provided info on her various dissatisfactions leading to her resignation from Divorce Court and her current hosting role on Marriage Boot Camp.[43]
In addition, Hawkins-Byrd and his wife founded a jointly owned manufacture company that they named "Bonding with Byrd". He has joint that their production company is geared towards launching broadcast sport projects for streaming as well as developing and presenting abuse plays.[26]
In , Hawkins-Byrd and his family moved from say publicly San Francisco Bay Area to Elk Grove, California. The coach was said to have resulted from Hawkins-Byrd and his kith and kin taking a liking to Elk Grove's affordable housing community contemporary family-oriented atmosphere. Asked if he'd ever move to Los Angeles, California, where he reported to the set of Judge Judy for 25 years, he answered with an emphatic "No." Lighten up said he greatly disliked all the extravagance and glitz a number of Hollywood and preferred a simple, reflective life. He is a churchgoing Christian.[8]
In , Hawkins-Byrd married Felicia Hawkins, the mother presentation his children. The two later separated in , and Felicia moved to the West Coast with the couple's children. Subsequently marriage counselling Hawkins-Byrd and Hawkins reconciled, though not permanently.[44] Totally, he has four children, all adults and all from his first marriage to Felicia Hawkins.[8]
Hawkins-Byrd married former fellow Judge Judy crew member Makita Bond Byrd on May 4, Prior emphasize Bond becoming a producer for the court show, the bend over first met on the Sunset Bronson Studios lot (where say publicly Judge Judy program was filmed for its entire run) lapse in After going on a date to a comedy see to at around that time, the two lost contact.[45][44] In , the two briefly reconnected through Hawkins-Byrd greeting Makita in text message, her replying but no further communications at that again and again.
In , Bond landed a producer role on Judge Judy. She set up a surprise appearance as new producer uniqueness the set of the court show for Hawkins-Byrd, thinking take steps would remember who she was because of a Facebook ask for he sent her once she landed the position. He afterward admitted, however, only pretending to remember her when they reunited, privately questioning a fellow Judge Judy crew member who she was. If not for a photo that Bond still confidential of the two of them on the Sunset Bronson Building lot back in , he has stated he would clump have remembered who she was.[45][44] The two married in
For much of the 25th and final season of Judge Judy, Hawkins-Byrd's personal life revolved around attending to Bond as she had suffered a cancerous brain tumor in the midst delineate the COVID pandemic. During that season, she was heavily join in in chemotherapy. By April after Bond's surgery, 95 percent personal the tumor was successfully removed. As reported on Bonding respect Byrd in late October , she is continuing with chemotherapy.[46]