Soul Food fans, grab a tissue, this one’s straight from the heart.
Brandon Hammond, who played the wise-beyond-his-years Ahmad in the 1997 classic Soul Food, just gave us a major dose of nostalgia. In celebration of Irma P. Hall’s 90th birthday, Hammond shared photos and a heartfelt tribute from a special reunion with his former co-star, the woman we all lovingly know as “Big Mama.”
“Happy 90th Birthday to the LEGENDARY Ms. Irma P. Hall [June 3, 1935]! 🎉🎈🎊” he began in his Instagram post, calling her career “nothing short of ICONIC.”
The reunion actually happened a few years back, but Hammond held onto those memories until now, using Hall’s milestone birthday as the perfect moment to reflect.
“I met her as a 12-year-old boy whom she immediately treated like her grandson,” he wrote. “Because of Soul Food, Irma would affectionately be known by so many as ‘Big Mama’ and I, as her ‘favorite grandbaby’—and she and I would be forever linked.”
Although Hall has stepped back from the spotlight (her last acting credit was in Hap and Leonard back in 2017), she clearly remains a powerhouse presence in Hammond’s life. He shared that the two reconnected in Texas as part of a Soul Food reunion documentary he’s directing, yes, a documentary is in the works.
“We even sat at the table for a nice soul food-esque dinner and just enjoyed one another,” he recalled. “Her hugs and smile were as I remember them, and being able to reminisce about that special time filming Soul Food almost 30 years ago is something I will hold onto for dear life.”
He also thanked Hall’s daughters for making the visit happen and wrapped up his post with a sweet reminder of their bond:
“People truly do come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. It feels like Irma’s presence in my life fits all three of those categories, and I am eternally grateful to know her.”
Happy 90th, Ms. Irma P. Hall! You’ll always be Big Mama to us.
