Tributes are pouring in online for veteran actor Bill Cobbs, who died on Tuesday at the age of 90.
Cobbs had appeared in such projects as Night At The Museum and The Sopranos, and won a Daytime Emmy Award at the age of 86 for the Canadian television series Dino Dana, playing the title character’s elderly neighbour.
The star broke into acting in his mid-30s, giving up his career as a car salesman to move to New York and pursue a career in show business.
After starting off in the theatre, he broke into movies at the age of 40 with the hit crime thriller The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three.
Cobbs died Tuesday at home in California, with the actor’s brother Thomas breaking the news on Wednesday via his Facebook page.
Tributes are pouring in online for veteran actor Bill Cobbs, who died on Tuesday at the age of 90 (pictured in 2019)
Leading the tributes is Suits star Wendell Pierce, 60, who took to X, formerly Twitter, to share his condolences for the man who ‘mentored’ him (pictured in June 2024)
‘We are saddened to share the passing of Bill Cobbs. On Tuesday, June 25, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in California,’ read the post.
‘A beloved partner, big brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather and friend, Bill recently and happily celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by cherished loved ones,’ the death announcement continued.
‘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.’
Leading the tributes is Suits star Wendell Pierce, 60, who took to X, formerly Twitter, to share his condolences for the man who ‘mentored’ him.
In a lengthy post, he wrote: ‘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…’
The star continued: ‘…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.
Fans of Night At The Museum will recognize him as Reginald, one of three old retiring security guards – the other two played by Dick Van Dyke (centre) and Mickey Rooney (left)
Wendell Pierce wrote a lengthy post on Twitter to pay tribute to the star
‘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.’
American actress Penny Johnson Jerald, 63, best known for The Larry Sanders Show, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and The Orville, reminisced on her memories with Cobbs.
In a heartfelt post, she wrote: ‘What a guy! What a #soul! What a #talent! What a #thespian What a #legend! So many beautiful, laugh out loud moments with the great #billcobbs RIP.’
Cobbs’ longtime talent representative, Susan Zachary, said in a statement to People: ‘He was loyal and dear … an inspiring actor, director and human. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
‘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.’
As well as actors and colleagues who had worked with Cobbs, fans also joined in with tributes and have flooded social media with praise for the star:
‘The great character actor Bill Cobbs was so good at playing guys who had been around the block and back in their time and had seen some bull****, and weren’t about to take your bull****. Rest well and thanks for the bounty of fine performances, good sir.’
‘Aw, RIP character actor extraordinaire Bill Cobbs. He’s so great in Demolition Man.’
Penny Johnson Jerald, 63, best known for The Larry Sanders Show, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and The Orville, reminisced on her memories with Cobbs (pictured in March 2023)
He won a Daytime Emmy Award at the age of 86 for the Canadian television series Dino Dana, playing the title character’s elderly neighbor; pictured on the show with lead Michela Luci
Fans also joined in with tributes and have flooded social media with praise for the star
‘RIP to legendary character actor Bill Cobbs – a warm and welcome face in every one of his countless performances!’
‘Mr. Bill Cobbs was an extraordinary talent, an absolute legend and a gentleman. He leaves an indelible mark on TV, film and stage. May he rest in eternal power.’
‘Bill Cobbs was central to one of the most important scenes in the history of sports movies. RIP.’
‘Loved his role in New Jack City! R.I.P. #BillCobbs.’
Born in Cleveland, Ohio in June 1934, Cobbs originally served in the military, working as a radar technician for the U.S. Air Force for eight years.
He started as an actor at his hometown’s Karamu House, a historic black theater that played host to the premieres of multiple works by Langston Hughes.
Cobbs eventually moved to New York and jobbed around on the stage before a bit part in The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three launched his career onscreen.
Over the course of five decades, he had supporting roles in a string of iconic films including The Bodyguard, Air Bud and The Color Of Money.
Fans of Night At The Museum will recognize him as Reginald, one of three old retiring security guards – the other two played by Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney.
Over five decades, he had supporting roles in a string of iconic films including The Bodyguard, Air Bud and The Color Of Money; pictured in the last of these with Paul Newman
His roles ranged from Louisiana Slim in the 1979 blaxploitation film The Hitter to the Master Tinker in the 2013 Disney fantasy Oz The Great And Powerful (pictured with Michelle Williams)
On The Sopranos (pictured), he featured as an elderly reverend whose son has an under-the-table arrangement with an Italian crime family
Cobbs pictured with Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard
His secured roles on sitcoms like Good Times, Baby…I’m Black! and Designing Women and dramas like Six Feet Under, on which he is pictured with Rachel Griffiths and Lauren Ambrose
His roles ranged from Louisiana Slim in the 1979 blaxploitation picture The Hitter to the Master Tinker in the 2013 Disney fantasy Oz The Great And Powerful.
He had a no less illustrious run on the small screen, with roles on a wide variety of shows like One Tree Hill, Star Trek: Enterprise and The Drew Carey Show.
On The Sopranos, he featured as an elderly reverend whose son has an under-the-table arrangement with an Italian crime family.
His secured roles on sitcoms like Good Times, Baby…I’m Black! and Designing Women and dramas like Six Feet Under, NYPD Blue and Touched By An Angel.
Cobbs continued working to the end, with his IMDb page showing multiple releases still to come, including the drama film Broken Church starring Eric Roberts.
