Bill Cobbs, the veteran character actor renowned for his roles in over 120 films and television shows, has passed away at the age of 90.
Best known for his memorable performances in ‘Night at the Museum,’ ‘The Bodyguard,’ and ‘The Hudsucker Proxy,’ as well as television series like ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘The West Wing,’ and ‘Six Feet Under,’ Cobbs left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
His publicist, Chuck Jones, confirmed to TMZ that Cobbs died on Tuesday night, June 25, at his home in Riverside, California.
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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 16, 1934, Bill Cobbs held several jobs before embarking on his acting career. He served in the US Air Force as a radar technician for eight years, followed by stints at IBM and as a car salesman.
It wasn’t until 1970, at the age of 36, that Cobbs moved to New York to pursue stage and screen work, marking the beginning of an illustrious career.
Cobbs’ career spanned decades, with standout roles in both film and television. His performance in ‘Night at the Museum’ as Reginald, the museum’s night guard, endeared him to audiences of all ages.
On television, he was celebrated for his roles in ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘The West Wing.’ In 2020, Cobbs won an Emmy for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program for his appearance on the children’s show ‘Dino Dana.’
Following his passing, numerous fans and colleagues paid tribute to Cobbs on social media. Sheryl Lee Ralph, star of ‘Abbott Elementary,’ wrote, ‘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.’
Cobbs’ legacy is one of dedication and talent, having captivated audiences and inspired fellow actors throughout his career.
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
Cobbs made his film debut with a brief appearance in the 1974 crime drama The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. He worked steadily through the 1980s and in 1992 landed the eye-catching role of Whitney Houston’s manager in the romantic drama The Bodyguard.
In 1994, the Coen brothers cast Cobbs as Moses in The Hudsucker Proxy, a central character whose mystical ability to stop time comes to the aid of Tim Robbins’ Norville Barnes.
In 1996, Cobbs played a jazz pianist in Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do!, and followed that up by portraying the coach who decided to let a basketball-playing dog join his team in 1997’s Air Bud.
Cobbs joined the cast of The Sopranos in 2000, playing the elderly Reverend James Sr in the second season episode “Do Not Resuscitate”. In 2001 he played the blind and deaf Mr Jones in Six Feet Under, and in 2002 he appeared in The West Wing episode “Enemies Foreign and Domestic”.
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