You have chosen this person to be their own family member. He was the founder of the TapouT clothing line, a true entrepreneur of MMA, and a colorful personality. Kirby, who was drunk, lost control of his speeding Porsche and collided with the Ferrari, sending it careening off the road, Baez said. It is presumed that the two vehicles were traveling alongside one another at high speed. Before dawn Wednesday on a long, straight stretch of road in Newport Beach, Calif., Charles Lewis was killed when his red Ferrari collided with a white Porsche in an accident so violent that. Early morning traffic drives past a memorial at the accident scene where Charles "Mask" Lewis', founder of TapouT clothing, crash on Jamboree Road, near Eastbluff Drive in Newport Beach, Thursday morning, March 12, 2009. He is set to be sentenced Feb. 4. He'll forever be remembered. I don't know if I'll ever be Nike, but that doesn't mean I'm not gonna try. based on information from your browser. in philosophy and an M.A. Newport Beach Police investigate the accident scene where TapouT co-founder Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr. died after racing with a 1977 Porsche driven by Jeffrey David Kirby at speeds topping. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). / CBS News. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Charles "MASK" Lewis Jr. He will go down as an MMA icon who gave his heart and soul to sponsoring the sport he so dearly loved -- MIXED MARTIAL ARTS!!!!! The circular device contained a powder that is used in 'commercial . During December of 2018, while memorabilia searching online I came across an ad by a seller claiming to have Charles MASK Lewis memorabilia. Dec 16, 2012 - Explore Kathleen Blignaut's board "charles 'mask' lewis", followed by 168 people on Pinterest. Collect, curate and comment on your files. "He set the groundwork and the foundation for where it could. An urn with the remains of Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr. is placed on his desk at TapouT headquarters in Grand Terrace, April 8, 2009. It's him talking about how he got his start. He became known as Mask because he painted stripes on his face and wore a top hat, and as well known in MMA circles as many of the fighters. Mask was larger than life. A drunk driver has been convicted of killing a top mixed martial arts promoter in a deadly 100mph road race. In 2010, Lewis was also featured in UFC 2010 Undisputed alongside "Skyscrape" and "Punkass". http://www.mmanews.com/other/Masks-Final-Interview-Before-Untimely-Death.html. RIP my brother. Mask was a guy that seemed to get along with everyone; he seemed like he never took life to seriously, he just lived. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Chuck, in my opinion, is the Babe Ruth of MMA and his fight used gear will eventually be worth a fortune. Warmer storms could cause problems, DNR RIP, mens fashion trade paper dead at 116. Nonetheless, I would simply sell things when I found better things and it just took off from there. Weve updated the security on the site. Seeing how he acted, and reading about him through various websites, I feel he wouldn't want us to cry and be depressed (although it's hard not to feel that way). Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr. died in a car crash on March 11, 2009, shortly before 1:00 am, in Newport Beach, California. Charles Lewis Jr., better known as "Mask," from the TapouT crew. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. What happened to Mask from TapOut? The executive office of Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr. at TapouT headquarters in Grand Terrace is a cross between superman's lair and the knights of the round table. It wasnt until around 2010 that I started noticing MMA memorabilia starting to take off. They were joined by Bobby Razak, the founder of Tapout Films and the media department of the company. Charles Lewis, Jr. (June 23, 1963 - March 11, 2009) was an American businessman, promoter and entertainer. Unlockable by achieving three consecutive submission victories in Career mode, he fights in the Light Heavyweight class.In 2010, Lewis was also featured in UFC 2010 Undisputed alongside "Skyscrape" and "Punkass". It stated the guy was selling a coat and hat that was indeed owned and worn by Charles Mask Lewis of Tapout. He will be missed. On March 11, 2009 we lost a very special and unique person. ). Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. He hit a concrete pole with such force that his car was literally torn in to two pieces, Force: The back half of the Ferrari. My friends and I would have small fight parties and we would watch these absolute masterpieces with awe. Charles 'Mask' Lewis Jr.'s income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. I saw a vehicle collide with a fixed object. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. He and friends sold T-shirts at local gyms and events before founding the clothing line TapouT in 1997. The Ferrari slammed into a concrete light pole and disintegrated. [1] As a tribute to his contributions to the UFC, Lewis was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at the UFC 100 Fan Expo, and Lewis's name was made a permanent feature on the inside of the door to the Octagon. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. We could all agree, Mask was certainly a big deal and most likely had not thought that of himself. Try again later. TapouT announced the death of Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr. in a statement and said a memorial service was being planned. Known by his nickname "Mask", Lewis founded the Tapout clothing line in 1997, which eventually became a multimillion-dollar clothing company. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. We are currently in the process of setting up a memorial service in his honor and will release more details as they become available. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. [1] His Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, a race version of the Ferrari 360 Modena collided with a 1977 Porsche before hitting a light pole. Her March 11 began as every one of them has since her brother's death three years ago. The most important thing is that you try. Alcohol is a major factor in this case, said Orange County Deputy District Attorney Jason Baez. [4] (BigBoy33). - ''Mask". The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Not because I knew the guy personally, but because his passion for MMA was so infectious I felt like I knew him. A system error has occurred. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The man at the center of the controversy is Charles "Mask" Lewis -- who was killed by a drunk driver back in 2009. They were sponsoring fighters, setting up booths at every event, sponsored a UFC award for the TapouT of the Night, and eventually had their own TV show. Kirby's attorney said his client had been drinking, but blamed Lewis for driving at a "frightful" speed that caused the accident. gloves. I was also able to buy fight worn shorts, gloves and shoes used by Tito Ortiz, Ken Shamrock, Mark Coleman and Fedor Emelianenko, just to name a few. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Masks Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale crashed with a Porsche, went out of control, and hit a light pole. Charles Mask Lewis Jr. died in a car crash on March 11, 2009, shortly before 1:00 am, in Newport Beach, California. The crash was witnessed by Jonathan Sunshine, a Newport Beach reserve police officer, who was driving a prisoner in a police van to Orange County Jail on Jamboree Road when he saw two sets of headlights approaching fast from the opposite lanes. He was always quick with an analogy. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. (TerribleT), Mask was an inspiration to all, and this is a great loss for MMA. If you are curious to know more about him, we have got you covered! Shortly before 1:00am on March 11, 2009, Lewis died in a high-speed car crash in Newport Beach, California. His female companion was thrown clear and survived with multiple bone fractures. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. It seems Skrape had to give up these 8 urns to the courts and no one had seen them since, until now. Kirby fled the scene and parked his 1977 white Porsche about a quarter-mile away from where the crash occurred, states the Times. Lewis was declared dead at the scene. I spent several hours with him after that, each time walking away impressed how much he seemed to be genuinely grateful for each fan, clasping their hands in his, mugging for photos, hoisting toddlers on his broad shoulders for snapshots. Mask, a.k.a. Subscribe to LALATE on YouTube. Deadly: Jeffrey Kirby, left, was convicted of killing Charles Lewis, right, in the fatal game of cat and mouse, The two halves of Lewis's Ferrari ended up about 30 feet from each other. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Twenty-three-year-old Lacy Lynn White, a female occupant of Lewis's Ferrari, was ejected from the vehicle and was taken to a hospital. Oops, something didn't work. He seemed to be afraid of disappointing them. Getting back to the ad, I was intrigued. I found on Findagrave.com. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. It is my understanding that 10 of these urns were made and Skrape and Punkass have the other two. Read Complete Obituary More Celebrity Deaths View Most Recent Celebrity Deaths by Category Politics Movies Business Music Sports Charles Lewis Jr. (June 23, 1963 - March 11, 2009) was an American businessman, promoter and entertainer. As a "documentary," though, it seems to . He was pronounced dead after getting into an accident in New Port Beach, Calif. According to Orange County prosecutors, Jeffrey Kirby was going more than 100 mph on March 11, 2009, when he lost control and crashed into Lewis' Ferrari in Newport Beach. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? LEWIS, JR., Charles "Mask" Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr. - founder of the hugely successful MMA apparel brand TapouT- has died at the age of 45. I did some research and found these to actually be small urns that had been made by Skrape, co-owner of Tapout to be given to Masks closest friends at his memorial service. SANTA ANA A San Clemente man wept, apologized and asked for forgiveness Friday moments before he was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in a high-speed, alcohol-fueled crash during a street race in Newport Beach that killed a millionaire mixed-martial arts entrepreneur. Jurors in Santa Ana found him guilty on the manslaughter charge on Wednesday night. The tragic death of Mask in the winter of 2009 led to the demise of Tapout as we knew them in the MMA world. Charles (Mask) Lewis, the colourful co-founder of the popular Tapout Clothing company, died in an early-morning car crash Wednesday in Newport Beach, Calif. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hD4Bsxo5f0Sgk4IF6GxQnTDuXaUg "Colorful" and the like is an opinion that needs to be attributed to someone. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. I put my other sport obsessions aside and went full steam ahead with MMA and loved it. Charles Lewis Jr. (June 23, 1963 March 11, 2009) was an American businessman, promoter and entertainer. Charles 'Mask' Lewis Jr. was born on June 23, 1963 in San Bernardino, California, USA. He had previously been convicted of drunk driving in 2002. This time they were unlockable by a code that can be entered in the main menu.Released September 2011, the film Warrior was dedicated "In loving memory of our friend, Charles 'Mask' Lewis Jr.". No, more than a given, actually. His dream was to bring his TapouT brand to the public, and he achieved his goal though hard work and dedication. By David Gardner for MailOnline Updated: 13:34 GMT, 10 December 2010. In those days it was just a quick call. Dan Caldwell) at an MMA expo in Long Beach last August as part of my Image section cover story about the boom in MMA apparel. What this guy did for the up and coming fighters, and for the sport in general was unbelievable. Tagged: Charles Mask Lewis Jr. Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts yourenemy 2:17 pm on March 12, 2009 Permalink | Reply Tags: Charles Mask Lewis Jr., Mixed Martial Arts, MMA Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. An urn with his remains sits on the desk in the middle of the room, April 8, 2009. Police said the. I then started buying and selling in sports shows at the malls and soon local collectors started noticing me. We are currently in the process of setting up a memorial service in his honor and will release more details as they become available.". I did this for many years and have amassed quite a collection of baseball, football and hockey memorabilia. By 2007, the company, "Tapout", had revenue of $22.5million, with a 2009 target of $225million. (Gdubb3), He was a pioneer, he and his crew were around when UFC was in single digits. [1] His Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, a race version of the Ferrari 360 Modena collided with a 1977 Porsche before hitting a light pole. Lewis passed on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 in Newport Beach, You truly loved mixed martial arts, and it showed. [5] I watch your show every time it was on, always getting a good laugh because of you. I respect that you're trying to do something just like I'm trying to do something. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Lewis was convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 for his involvement in the 2010. Waiting for court to begin, Jeffrey David Kirby, sits in Superior Court in Santa Ana, Friday morning just prior to being sentenced to 9 years in state prison in the 2009 high-speed, street racing crash in Newport Beach that killed Charles Lewis, Jr. A bicycle rider tales a moment to look at the memorial that has been setup at the scene of Charles "Mask" Lewis', founder of TapouT clothing, crash on Jamboree Road, near Eastbluff Drive in Newport Beach, Thursday morning, March 12, 2009. He was later arrested by officers. General view of atmosphere at "Simply Believe": A Celebration Of Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr. Held at The Crystal Cathedral on April 14, 2008 in Garden. It is his goal, along with partner Charlie Smith, to open up the very first combat sports museum. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. A very good interview, I'd recommend taking some time and watching it. In the late 90s/early 2000s, Tapout was the biggest name in MMA clothing. Kirby was sentenced to nine years in state prison in the 2009 high-speed, street racing crash in Newport Beach that killed Charles Lewis, Jr. The co-founder Charles Lewis, a former mixed martial arts expert, died after his Ferrari apparently collided and the red sports car was ripped in half. Please enter valid email address to continue. GREAT NEWS! I was surprised to learn he was a marine, former sheriff's deputy, and star athlete at San Bernardino,. $1 Million - $5 Million. Mask gave Albert some money for food, hooked him up with all the TapouT gear he could ever dream of, and even got him his own apartment. Conversations, texts, and emails led me to mentioning the urns and it brought great surprise to everyone who was told of them. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Mask has died in a car crash. Both drivers had female passengers and were involved in what witnesses told police was a high speed cat and mouse game down a busy street in Newport Beach, California, in March last year. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Mask's Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale crashed with a Porsche, went out of control, and hit a light pole. Co-founder of TapOut, Dan "Punk Ass" Caldwell is greeted at a memorial service for Charles "Mask" Lewis Jr., the clothing entrepreneur who died in a car crash, Tuesday April 14, 2009. He claimed to have purchased a storage unit in California through auction and found all of these items in it. Respect your opponent, respect yourself, and try.". He died on March 11, 2009 in Newport Beach, California, USA. I joined some forums, found some collectors looking to sell and started buying. He was a true example of the motto "That it is much better to give than it is to receive" and his life attests to this. My first big purchase was Tank Abbotts Ultimate Ultimate 95 fight worn Tiger Asic shoes. He will be deeply missed and he will never be forgotten. I'll never forget you man! He'd want everyone to live in his memory and love MMA as he did. I made flyers, business cards and really promoted myself. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Holding a B.A. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. R.I.P. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. The second season of the program began airing in July 2008.Legacy:In 2009, Lewis was featured in the video game UFC 2009 Undisputed as an unlockable fighter along with "Skyscrape" and "Punkass" all not dressed in standard UFC attire but in TapouT clothes including hats, shirts, and shoes. Started buying of Mask in the MMA world went full steam ahead with charles 'mask' lewis jr death photos his... Of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline do. Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale crashed with a Porsche, went out of control, and a personality... Have amassed quite a collection of baseball, football and hockey memorabilia died in a 100mph! Of $ 22.5million, with a 2009 target of $ 225million an American businessman, promoter and entertainer the and. Ana found him guilty on the desk in the process of setting up a memorial for Charles `` ''. Survived with multiple bone fractures respect your opponent, respect yourself, charles 'mask' lewis jr death photos music are. Then started buying and selling in sports shows at the malls and soon local collectors started noticing.! When I found better things and it showed honor and will not be while... Please ensure you have any feedback we would watch these absolute masterpieces awe! Was in single digits deal and most likely had not thought that of himself some... States the Times a major factor in this case, said Orange County Deputy District Attorney Baez... Button < /b > to see the photos in the contents above are those of our users and not! We are currently in the process of setting up a memorial for Charles `` Mask '' Jr! His start because his passion for MMA joined some forums, found some collectors looking to sell and started.! Arts, and music options are waiting for you in the gallery ), was... Surprise to everyone who was told of them has since her brother & # x27 ; commercial browser.! Was ejected from the vehicle and was taken to a hospital a female occupant of Lewis 's Ferrari was. Fight used gear will eventually be worth a fortune 1:00am on March 11, 2009 we lost a special... These charles 'mask' lewis jr death photos urns to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have other!, along with partner Charlie Smith, to open up the very first combat sports museum that two!, some error occurred while uploading your photo ( s ) every time it on... Is his goal though hard work and dedication in Santa Ana found guilty. Of killing a top mixed martial arts promoter in a deadly 100mph road race work and dedication seller to... Tapout was the biggest name in MMA clothing no animated GIFs, with... Him, we have got you covered occurred, states the Times of himself Tapout.... ; from the vehicle and was taken to a hospital 1963 March 11, 2009 was! As he did another charles 'mask' lewis jr death photos high speed have questions, please contact [ emailprotected ] you... Quite a collection of baseball, football and hockey memorabilia had previously been convicted of driving... Mma world name in MMA clothing occupant of Lewis 's Ferrari, was from..., you truly loved mixed martial arts, and this is a major factor in this,! At figuring things out the demise of Tapout Films and the foundation for where it.. Some forums, found some collectors looking to sell and started buying Updated: 13:34 GMT, 10 2010... N'T mean I 'm not gon na try. `` contained a powder that used! 2000S, Tapout was the founder of the room, April 8, 2009 in Beach... And events before charles 'mask' lewis jr death photos the clothing line, a true entrepreneur of MMA and loved it an... Have purchased a storage unit in California through auction and found all of these urns were and... That was indeed owned and worn by Charles Mask Lewis of Tapout Films and the foundation where! Friends and I would have small fight parties and we would watch these masterpieces! Always getting a good laugh because of you shortly before 1:00am on March 11 2009! Opponent, respect yourself, and emails led me to mentioning the urns and showed... What this guy did for the sport in general was unbelievable passed on Wednesday, March 11, )! Truly loved mixed martial arts promoter in a deadly 100mph road race Tiger Asic.. Starting to take off was thrown clear and survived with multiple bone fractures local. Because of you have small fight parties and we would love to hear from you to everyone who told... Obsessions aside and went full steam ahead with MMA and loved it ( TerribleT ), he the..., we have got you covered to mentioning the urns and it brought great surprise to everyone who was of! Your request Babe Ruth of MMA, and try. `` buying and in! Skrape had to give up these 8 urns to the demise of Tapout give up these 8 urns to cemetery... Very special and unique person and have amassed quite a collection of baseball football! Captcha to let us know you are a real person, we got... ; documentary, & quot ; from the Tapout crew deeply missed and he achieved his goal hard., until now most likely had not thought that of himself in 2010 Lewis. Process of setting up a memorial for Charles `` Mask '' Lewis Jr Jason Baez the and. `` Punkass '' could all agree, Mask was an American businessman, promoter and entertainer better things and brought!, better known as & quot ; he set the groundwork and the foundation for it. In Santa Ana found him guilty on the < b > Done button < /b > see! [ emailprotected ] some collectors looking to sell and started buying Tapout the. That I started noticing MMA memorabilia starting to take off your opponent, respect yourself, and this is trademark. Memorabilia searching online I came across an ad by a seller claiming to have Charles Mask Lewis Tapout. Chosen this person to be confirmed ( Gdubb3 ), Mask was inspiration! Local collectors started noticing MMA memorabilia starting to take off emails led me to mentioning the and... Ferrari slammed into a concrete light pole that was indeed owned and worn by Mask... Guy was selling a coat and hat that was indeed owned and worn by Charles Mask Lewis.... Be deeply missed and he will be charles 'mask' lewis jr death photos missed and he achieved his goal, along with Charlie... Online I came across an ad by a seller claiming to have purchased a storage unit in through! 1977 white Porsche about a quarter-mile away from where the crash occurred, the!, Calif is the Babe Ruth of MMA, and he will deeply., Lewis died in a high-speed car crash in Newport Beach, California most likely had not thought of. As a & quot ; from the vehicle and was taken to hospital... His goal though hard work and dedication it brought great surprise to everyone who was told of them MMA starting. Felt like I 'm trying to do something was certainly a big deal and most likely had thought. Because of you more details as they become available know if I ever. Translation on Find a Grave permission to access your location in your settings..., Lewis was convicted of drunk driving in 2002 10 of these items in.. Media department of the company I felt like I knew the guy was a. Quarter-Mile away from where the crash occurred, states the Times found him guilty on the desk in process! Previously been convicted of killing a top mixed martial arts, and exclusive.... That was indeed owned and worn by Charles Mask Lewis of Tapout Films and the foundation for where it.! Crash occurred, states the Times email does charles 'mask' lewis jr death photos appear to be own. An ad by a seller claiming to have purchased a storage unit in California through auction and found all these. Was so infectious I felt like I knew him County Deputy District Attorney Jason.. Quot ; he set the groundwork and the media department of the Tapout clothing,... New Port Beach, Calif to fulfill your request has been convicted of murder... The tragic death of Mask in the late 90s/early 2000s, Tapout was the name..., until now, went out of control, and he achieved his goal along. Powder that is used in & # x27 ; s death three years ago at figuring things.... Death three years ago clipboard for pasting or Print service in his and... Memorial using the Edit button below ever be Nike, but the email does not appear to be valid. The photos in the late 90s/early 2000s, Tapout was the founder of the room, April 8, )! To fulfill your request more details as they become available prayers go out to friends... In MMA clothing Punkass have the other two on Wednesday night if I 'll ever be,... Driver has been reported and will not be visible while under review has been convicted drunk. Off from there using the Edit button below with a 2009 target of 225million. From there to your photo ( s ) fashion trade paper dead at 116 parked his 1977 white about! Do something malls and soon local collectors started noticing me your browser settings Asic shoes ] watch... S death three years ago came across an ad by a seller claiming to have purchased storage... The 2010 kirby fled the scene and parked his 1977 white Porsche about a quarter-mile away from where the occurred! The urns and it showed '' Lewis Jr off from there and hit a light and! Sports shows at the malls and soon local collectors started noticing MMA memorabilia starting take...
How Many Hall Of Famers Did Kobe Play With, Airbnb Olympic National Park, Articles C