Dancehall artist known as Louie Rankin dies in car crash in Canada at 66
TORONTO — Jamaican dancehall reggae artist and actor Louie Rankin, known for his 1992 hit “Typewriter,” died in a car crash involving a transport truck in Canada, police said Tuesday. He was 66.
Ontario Provincial Police Const. Shannon Gordanier confirmed that the person who died in the Monday morning collision was Leonard Ford, better known as Louie Rankin.
Rankin died at the scene of the accident on Highway 89 in Ontario and the driver of the transport truck suffered no physical injuries, police said. Police photos show a mangled vehicle and a truck along the side of a highway.
In 1992, Rankin released his album “Showdown” that featured the hit “Typewriter.” He was nicknamed the “Original Don Dada.”
This Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019 photo, released by the Ontario Provincial Police, shows the a smashed up vehicle involved in a fatal crash with transport truck near Shelburne, Ontario. Canadian police say the Jamaican dancehall reggae artist and actor known as Louie Rankin died Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, in the car crash involving a transport truck.
This Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019 photo, released by the Ontario Provincial Police, shows the a smashed up vehicle involved in a fatal crash with transport truck near Shelburne, Ontario. Canadian police say the Jamaican dancehall reggae artist and actor known as Louie Rankin died Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, in the car crash involving a transport truck. (Photo: Ontario Provincial Police/The Canadian Press via AP)
He starred in the 1998 movie “Belly” alongside rappers Nas and DMX, playing the character Ox.
Sidiki Morrison, who identified himself as Rankin’s manager and producer and is also known as Bizmo iBoss, said Rankin was a legend in his native Jamaica.
Rankin recently announced on Instagram that he was shooting a movie in Toronto with Morrison’s company, iHouse Records.
Rankin appeared in DJ Khaled’s 2016 music video for his song “Nas Album Done.”