Bill Cobbs, a veteran actor best known for over fifty years of character acting in movies like Air Bud, Night at the Museum, and The Bodyguard, passed away at the age of ninety.
His family released a statement saying, “We are saddened to share the passing of Bill Cobbs.”
“Bill died quietly at his California home on Tuesday, June 25. Bill, who recently spent his 90th birthday with joy and the company of his closest loved ones, was a cherished partner, big brother, uncle, godfather, and friend.
“We find solace in the knowledge that Bill has achieved peace and eternal rest with his Heavenly Father, as a family. Thomas Cobbs, the actor’s brother, posted on Facebook on Wednesday, saying, “We ask for your prayers and encouragement during this time.”
Cleveland native Bill Cobbs sold vehicles, worked at IBM, and was in the Air Force before he began his acting career at the age of 36.
He made his stage debut with the Negro Ensemble Company in Ride a Black Horse. In the future, he would appear in over 150 motion pictures and TV series.
Image – BBC
Cobbs portrayed the coach who started a golden retriever in a basketball lineup in the 1997 Disney film Air Bud, as well as Whitney Houston’s manager, Devaney, in the 1992 film The Bodyguard. Cobbs also appeared in the 2006 film Night at the Museum as a security guard, and he returned for the 2014 follow-up.
Cobbs appeared on television shows as Dr. Emory Erickson, the creator of the Transporter, on Star Trek: Enterprise, and bus driver Tony on The Drew Carey Show.
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Among his other television appearances are One Tree Hill, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, JAG, Northern Exposure, and Sesame Street.
In a 2012 interview, Cobbs stated, “I can find joy doing this so much because it’s exciting to have a project, work on it, and see it come to fruition.”
“It’s true that art is a kind of prayer. We react to our environment based on our perceptions, emotions, and the physical and psychological effects of things,” Cobbs continued. “I find fulfillment in my work. I find it to be incredibly enjoyable.”
