Veteran American actor Bill Cobbs has died at the age of 90.
The news was confirmed by Cobbs’ brother Thomas, who wrote on social media last night: “On Tuesday, June 25, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in California… As a family, we are comforted knowing Bill has found peace and eternal rest with his Heavenly Father.”
Bill Cobbs’ publicist Chuck I. Jones told the Associated Press that Cobbs died of natural causes.
We are saddened to share the passing of Bill Cobbs. On Tuesday, June 25, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in…
Posted by Thomas G. Cobbs on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Susan Zachary, Cobbs’ longtime rep told PEOPLE in a statement: “Bill was a hugely talented actor and director. He loved his craft, other actors, his family and friends and was extremely generous with his time, energy and support of emerging talent. He was a revered icon to many and deservedly so.”
Cobbs had enjoyed a career in acting for over five decades, beginning his run as an actor at the age of 36 after an eight-year stint as an Air Force radar technician.
Among his biggest roles were his portrayal as Whitney Houston’s manager in The Bodyguard (1992), the older brother of Medgar Evers in Rob Reiner’s Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), a jazz pianist in Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do! (1996), the coach in Air Bud (1997), the Master Tinker in Sam Raimi’s Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) and security guard Reginald in the Night At The Museum franchise (2006-2014).
Cobbs wasn’t only a film actor, having appeared in countless TV shows dating back to 1976. He most notably appeared in The Slap Maxwell Story, The Sopranos, Sesame Street, I’ll Fly Away, The Gregory Hines Show, The Drew Carey Show and Star Trek: Enterprise.
In 2020, Cobbs won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for his run as Mr. Hendrickson in the series Dino Dana.
See tributes to the late actor below.
Days after his 90th Birthday, Bill Cobbs died today. A father figure, a griot, an iconic artist, that mentored me by the way he led his life as an actor. He played my father twice: in I’ll Fly Away & The Gregory Hines Show.Each time imparting wisdom with a word of encouragement pic.twitter.com/BZNWxW4HuM
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) June 26, 2024
We owe a great debt to Bill Cobbs, along with Mary Alice, Samm Art Williams, Ron Milner, Lou Gossett, Jr. and others we have lost recently. To honor Bill and his memory, I will dedicate myself to creating work he would be proud of. Rest in Peace Bill Cobbs. God Bless
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) June 26, 2024
Emmy winner, working actor and wonderful human being, Bill Cobbs transitioned to act on a higher stage June 25th after celebrating his 90th birthday June 16th RIP pic.twitter.com/SiSaN9RUC3
— sheryl lee ralph (@thesherylralph) June 26, 2024
#RestInPower to iconic actor Bill Cobbs, who was best-known for his roles in “New Jack City,” “Air Bud,” and the “Bodyguard.”
We’re sending love to his family and friends during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/n1ATsGFNV5
— NAACP (@NAACP) June 26, 2024
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