Actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd, known for his roles in Spike Lee films, has been shot and killed in Atlanta, police said Sunday.

Police responded to a call around 1:45 a.m. Saturday and found the 70-year-old Byrd unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds in his back, police spokesperson Officer Anthony Grant said in a statement.

Responding paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene on the city's southwest side, where he lived.

Grant said homicide detectives were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and declined to provide further details.

In an Instagram post Sunday, Lee said he was sad to announce Byrd's death and recalled how the actor "did his thang" in his films including Clockers, Chi-Raq, Bamboozled, He Got Game and Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, among others.

"May we all wish condolences and blessings to his family," Lee wrote. "Rest in peace, Brother Byrd."

Lee also shared some of his favourite scenes with Byrd from Clockers and Bamboozled.

Byrd, also a stage actor, was nominated in 2003 for a Tony for his performance in the Broadway revival of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, co-starring Whoopi Goldberg and Charles S. Dutton.

Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis tweeted: "Oh no!!! 2020! Whaaattt!!!"

Byrd was a "brilliant dancer, actor, and friend," Elisabeth Omilami, a fellow actor and community activist, told WXIA-TV in Atlanta.

"He was a special person whose personality filled up the whole room when he entered you knew he was there," she said. "He fought his way through this very racist and difficult Hollywood system and was able to maintain a career through it all."

She said Byrd had just recently finished his last film — Freedom's Path — with her husband, actor Afemo Omilami.

Actor Lori Petty tweeted: "What a man, what a talent ... what a crazy loss."