Bill Cobbs, Night at the Museum and Sopranos actor, dies aged 90
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Bill Cobbs, the experienced actor who was in more than 120 movies and TV shows, has passed away at the age of 90.
He gained fame for his popular roles in Night at the Museum, The Bodyguard, and The Hudsucker Proxy, along with TV series like The Sopranos, The West Wing, and Six Feet Under.
He passed away on Tuesday evening (June 25) at his residence in Riverside, California, according to his publicist Chuck Jones as reported by TMZ.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, from Abbott Elementary, was one of the many fans honoring Cobbs on social media. She mentioned that he was an Emmy winner, active actor, and great person. Cobbs passed away on June 25th after celebrating his 90th birthday on June 16th. Rest in peace.
Cobbs received an Emmy award in 2020 for his impressive performance on the children's program Dino Dana, earning recognition for his outstanding work in a limited role.
Cobbs was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 16, 1934. Before becoming an actor, he had various jobs like being a radar technician in the US Air Force for eight years. He also worked for IBM and as a car salesman. It wasn't until he was 36 years old in 1970 that he decided to move to New York and start pursuing a career in acting on stage and screen.
Cobbs started his acting career with a small part in the 1974 movie The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. He continued to work consistently throughout the 1980s and gained recognition for playing Whitney Houston's manager in the 1992 film The Bodyguard. In 1994, he was cast by the Coen brothers as Moses in The Hudsucker Proxy, a key character with a special power to pause time that helps Tim Robbins' character.
In 1996, Cobbs had a role as a jazz pianist in Tom Hanks' film That Thing You Do! He then went on to play the coach who allowed a dog with basketball skills to join his team in the movie Air Bud in 1997.
Cobbs became a part of The Sopranos in 2000, taking on the role of Reverend James Sr in the episode "Do Not Resuscitate" during the second season. The following year, he portrayed Mr. Jones, who was blind and deaf, in Six Feet Under. In 2002, he made an appearance in an episode of The West Wing titled "Enemies Foreign and Domestic".
Cobbs kept acting even as he got older, taking on the important role of retired security guard Reginald in the movie Night at the Museum in 2006 and coming back for the sequel in 2014.
On Facebook, Bill's brother Thomas Cobbs shared a message on behalf of their family. He announced that Bill had passed away peacefully at his home in California. Thomas described Bill as a beloved partner, older brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather, and friend. He mentioned that Bill had recently celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by loved ones. The family is finding comfort in knowing that Bill is now at peace and resting with his Heavenly Father. They are asking for prayers and support during this difficult time.
