Petri Hawkins Byrd [Updates] net worth, wife, family, bio, career facts.

You know him as the man who stands by Judge Judy’s side, delivering witty remarks and stern looks to the litigants. But he is much more than just a bailiff. He is a versatile and talented performer who has showcased his skills in acting, voice acting, writing and comedy. He has starred in movies and TV shows, such as Tom Hennessy, Fear PHarm 2, The Bold and the Beautiful and The ‘N’ Word. He has also created his own online talk show, Bonding with Byrd, where he and his wife, Makita Bond, chat with celebrities and fans. And he is not done yet. He is ready to take on a new challenge as the bailiff of the new court show, Tribunal, where he will join a panel of three judges in resolving real-life disputes. He is Petri Hawkins Byrd, or simply Byrd, and he is one of the most recognizable faces on television.

Table of Contents

Early Life & Education

Byrd was born on the 29th of November 1957 in  Crown Heights, Brooklyn New York as Petri Adonis Byrd, the youngest of five siblings. His father was a drug dealer who spent most of his life in prison and rehab. His mother was a stay-at-home mom who held their family together and instilled in Byrd the values of education and respect. She later passed away and Byrd changed his name from Adonis to Hawkins, her maiden name, to honor her memory

Byrd had a natural talent for comedy and impressions from an early age. He would entertain his father and his friends with his imitations of celebrities such as Flip Wilson, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Ed Sullivan, Bill Cosby and others. He also had an interest in law and justice, inspired by the civil rights movement and the Jim Crow laws that he witnessed growing up. He found his escape from his harsh reality in school, reading, television and movies.

Byrd attended Eastern District High School in Brooklyn and then Hostos Community College in The Bronx. He then pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, graduating in 1989. During his college years, he worked as a court officer for the Brooklyn circuit of the New York City court system and then transferred to the family court division in Manhattan. There he met Judge Judy Sheindlin, who became his mentor and friend.

Professional Career

Here is a career timeline of Petri Hawkins Byrd:

• 1980s: Worked as a court officer for the Brooklyn circuit of the New York City court system and later transferred to the family court division in Manhattan. Also attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and earned a degree in criminal justice.
• Late 1980s: Met Judge Judy Sheindlin while working in Manhattan family court and became her favorite court officer.
• 1990: Moved to San Mateo, California and worked as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal.
• 1996: Reunited with Judge Judy Sheindlin and became the bailiff on her new court show, Judge Judy. Became television’s longest court show bailiff in history.
• 1996-present: Appeared in numerous motion pictures and television shows as an actor, voice actor and writer. Performed stand-up comedy and impressions of celebrities. Became a motivational speaker and a philanthropist for several youth organizations².
• 2018-present: Hosted a Facebook/YouTube talk show-like series with his wife, Makita Bond, called Bonding with Byrd.
• 2022: Announced to return to the court show genre as the bailiff on Tribunal, a panel-based spin-off courtroom series created by Judge Judy Sheindlin.

Net Worth

Petr Hawkins Byrd is a television personality and actor who has served as the loyal and witty sidekick of Judge Judy Sheindlin for 25 years. He is also the longest-running bailiff in a TV court program. But his career is not limited to the courtroom. He has also appeared in other shows such as The Doctors and The Bold and the Beautiful, and works as a speaker, M.C., voiceover artist and community activist.

With such a diverse and impressive resume, it is no wonder that Byrd has amassed a considerable fortune over the years. he has an estimated net worth of $3.5 Million as of 2023.

Byrd is not only rich in money but also in talent, charisma and humor. He is a beloved figure in the television industry and among the fans of Judge Judy. He has also won three Emmy Awards for his work on the show. 

Controversy

Byrd has been praised for his professionalism, humor and loyalty to Judge Judy Sheindlin, whom he met when he was working as a court officer in New York. He followed her to Los Angeles when she launched her show in 1996, and became one of the most recognizable faces on daytime TV.

However, Byrd’s long-running association with Sheindlin came to an end in 2021, when he was not invited to join her new show Judy Justice, which premiered in November the same year. Byrd revealed that he was never asked to audition for the role of the new bailiff, and that Sheindlin told him he was “priced out” of the project.

Byrd said he was confused and dismayed by Sheindlin’s decision, especially after being with her from the beginning of her career. He also said he was dealing with his wife’s brain surgery at the time, which added to his stress. He wished Sheindlin well, but said he felt hurt by the way things ended.

Despite this controversy, Byrd has maintained a clean and respectable profile throughout his career. He has not been involved in any scandals or rumors that would tarnish his reputation or image. He is now focusing on his acting and voiceover.

Marriage and Children

Byrd has been married twice in his life. His first wife was Felicia Hawkins, whom he met and married in 1980. They had four children together, but their marriage faced some challenges and they separated in 1989. Felicia moved with their children to the West Coast, while Byrd stayed in New York.

Byrd and Hawkins reconciled after marriage counseling, but their reunion was not permanent. They eventually divorced and Byrd moved to California to be closer to his children.

In 2012, Byrd met Markita Bond, a producer on Judge Judy, at the Sunset Bronson Studios. They went on a date to a comedy show, but it did not work out well. They lost contact and parted ways.

In 2016, they encountered each other again on the set of Judge Judy, where Bond came as a producer. They rekindled their relationship and tied the knot on May 4, 2019. Several Judge Judy crew members attended their wedding to congratulate the newlyweds.

Byrd and Bond faced a difficult challenge in 2020, when Bond was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. She underwent several chemotherapy sessions and received support from Byrd and the Judge Judy team. By April 2021, 95 percent of the tumor was removed from Bond. She is currently continuing with chemotherapy with positive feedback.

Byrd is a proud father of four adult children and a loving husband to Bond. He is also a philanthropist and a comedian who enjoys performing stand-up and doing impressions of celebrities. He is currently working on a new court show called Tribunal.

Physical Traits

Petri Hawkins Byrd is a man of impressive stature and presence. He stands at 6 ft 2in (1.88 m) and weighs around 240 Ibs (109kg), with a muscular build and a confident posture. His face is expressive and charismatic, with dark brown eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. His voice is deep and authoritative, but also warm and humorous. He commands respect and attention in any courtroom he enters, but also radiates friendliness and charm

Personality Traits

Byrd was born on November 29, 1957, making him a Sagittarius by zodiac sign. Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the zodiac, symbolized by the archer. People born under this sign are adventurous, optimistic, enthusiastic, honest and independent. They are also known for their sense of humor, generosity and curiosity. Sagittarius people love to explore new places, learn new things and share their opinions with others. They are not afraid to speak their mind or challenge the status quo. They are also loyal and faithful friends who value freedom and honesty.

Petri Hawkins Byrd exhibits many of these traits in his personal and professional life. He has a passion for comedy and impressions, which he developed from an early age. He has also pursued his interest in law and justice, working as a court officer for the New York City court system and later as a bailiff for Judge Judy Sheindlin. He has shown his adventurous spirit by moving across the country to California to join the show and by traveling around the world with his wife. He has also displayed his enthusiasm and optimism by engaging with fans on social media and hosting his own talk show with his wife called Bonding with Byrd. He has been honest and outspoken about his views on various issues, such as racism, politics and education. He has also been generous and charitable, supporting various causes and organizations, such as the Boys & Girls Club of America and the National Association of Court Officers.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Birth Name	Petri Adonis Byrd
Place of Birth	Crown Heights, Brooklyn, United States
Nationality	American
Birthdate	November 29, 1957
Alma Mater	John Jay College of Criminal Justice (BS)
Career	Court officer, Bailiff, Actor, Voice-over talent
Years active	1996–present (television personality)
Known For	Judge Judy (1996–2021)
Net worth	$3.5 M (estimated)
Marital Status	Married
Current Spouse	Makita Bond (m. 2019)
Former Spouse	Felicia Byrd (m. 1980, separated in 1989)
Children	4
Zodiac	Sagittarius
Social Media Handle	Instagram