Bill Cobbs, Legendary Veteran Actor, Dead At 90
Bill Cobbs, a legendary actor with a career spanning 5 decades, has died at age 90.
TMZ reports that Chuck I. Jones, Cobbs’ publicist, informed them of the news on Wednesday (June 26) that he passed away on Tuesday (June 25) at his California home. According to the outlet, Cobbs’ death was attributed to a case of pneumonia.
Cobbs’ family member, Thomas Cobbs, posted a statement regarding the storied entertainer on Facebook. The post asked for “prayers and encouragement” and shared love with fans and friends.
“We are saddened to share the passing of Bill Cobbs. On Tuesday, June 25, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in California,” the post reads. “A beloved partner, big brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather and friend, Bill recently and happily celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by cherished loved ones. As a family we are comforted knowing Bill has found peace and eternal rest with his Heavenly Father. We ask for your prayers and encouragement during this time.”
Bill Cobbs stayed with an acting job for over 50 years, with a career reaching back to the 1970s after getting his start in 1975’s Vegetable Soup. He managed to appear in over 200 movies and TV shows, leaving a mark on the industry and iconic franchises. A few of these highlights include his appearances in 1992’s The Bodyguard, starring Whitney Houston, 1979’s The Hitter, 2006’s Night at the Museum, 1997’s Air Bud, 2011’s The Muppets, 1999’s The Sopranos, and more.
His seasoned career eventually led him to some hardware. The actor won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program for his role in Dino Dana in 2020.
Bill Cobbs was born and raised as a boy from Cleveland, Ohio. His blue-collar roots led him to the Air Force, where he served for eight years before finding work at IBM and car sales. He then set his sights on New York City, where he became an actor, snagging roles in theater productions, exploring his love for music, and learning how to play the drums.
Mr. Cobbs will be remembered as a quiet everyman whose work would profoundly impact almost three generations.
VIBE sends their love and condolences to Bill Cobbs’ family, friends, and others impacted by this loss.
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