Bill Cobbs, a veteran Hollywood actor known for his roles in “Demolition Man,” “That Thing You Do!” and “Air Bud,” among many others, has died at the age of 90. The news was confirmed by his brother, Thomas Cobbs, who wrote on Facebook that the actor passed away peacefully at his home in California on Tuesday.
“A beloved partner, big brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather, and friend, Bill recently and happily celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by cherished loved ones,” Thomas Cobbs shared in his post.
With a career spanning five decades, Cobbs accumulated nearly 200 film and TV credits. He appeared in numerous beloved titles, including the 1993 action-thriller “Demolition Man” and the Oscar-nominated 1996 classic “That Thing You Do!”
Born in Cleveland, Cobbs began his career in the mid-1970s on the stage, performing in Broadway productions such as “Black Picture Show” and “The First Breeze of Summer.” He later appeared in stage productions of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, Cobbs’ career flourished with various TV show and movie roles, including appearances in “Good Times,” “The Equalizer,” “One Life to Live,” and “Sesame Street.” He also featured in films such as “The Hitter,” “Trading Places,” and the Oscar-winning “The Color of Money.”
In 1987, Cobbs had another significant break when he landed the role of The Dutchman opposite the late Dabney Coleman in the ABC sitcom “The Slap Maxwell Story,” appearing in every episode of the show’s single season. That same year, he also played Webb Johnson in an episode of the legal drama series “L.A. Law.”