Veteran Actor Bill Cobbs Passes Away at 90

Bill Cobbs, a well-loved character actor who appeared in over 150 films and TV shows, has died at 90. Cobbs passed away on Tuesday night at his home, surrounded by family and friends. His publicist, Chuck I. Jones, said he died of natural causes.

Wilbert Francisco Cobbs, born on June 16, 1934, in Cleveland, Ohio, had a long career that lasted fifty years. Known for his wise and memorable roles, Cobbs was a familiar face in Hollywood. He won the hearts of audiences with his performances in both comedies and dramas.

After finishing high school at East Tech, he served eight years in the U.S. Air Force, where he tried stand-up comedy.

After his military service, he worked for IBM and sold cars. His acting career started when a customer asked him to be in a play.

He first performed in the anti-apartheid musical Lost in the Stars at Cleveland’s Karamu House in 1969.

He then moved to New York, joining the Negro Ensemble Company and working with famous actors like Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.

His first film role was a small part in the 1974 movie The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. This opened the door for many other film and TV roles.

Cobbs’ film career included many notable roles. In “The Bodyguard” (1992), he played Whitney Houston’s manager. In “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994), he was a mystical clock man.

In “Air Bud” (1997), he was the coach who let a dog play basketball. In “Night at the Museum” (2006), he was a security guard, a role he played again in the 2014 sequel.

He also appeared in many TV shows, including “The Sopranos,” “The West Wing,” “Sesame Street,” and “Good Times.” He played a father figure on “The Gregory Hines Show.” In 2020, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for his role in the series “Dino Dana.”

Colleagues praised Cobbs for his wisdom and generosity. Wendell Pierce, who worked with Cobbs on “I’ll Fly Away” and “The Gregory Hines Show,” called him “a father figure, a griot, an iconic artist.”

Cobbs once said that being an artist is about giving and that art is like a prayer. He believed artists respond to what they see and feel around them. This belief was clear in every role he played.

His brother, Thomas Cobbs, said that pneumonia was the suspected cause of death. “As a family, we are comforted knowing Bill has found peace and eternal rest with his Heavenly Father,” Thomas Cobbs said, asking for prayers and support during this time.