Bill Cobbs – a veteran actor best known for his roles in The bodyguard, air button It is Night at the museum — he died. He was 90 years old.
“We are saddened to share the passing of Bill Cobbs. On Tuesday, June 25, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in California,” a relative announced in a post on Facebook. “A beloved partner, older brother, uncle, surrogate father, godfather and friend, Bill recently celebrated his 90th birthday with his loved ones in tow. As a family, we are comforted in knowing that Bill has found eternal peace and rest with his Heavenly Father. We ask for your prayers and encouragement during this time.”
The cause of death was not released.
TMZ reported that Cobbs died Tuesday night at his home in Riverside, California, about an hour east of Los Angeles. Cobbs’ acting career spanned more than five decades. According to his bio on his IMDb PageCobbs launched his career at the Karamu House Theater in Cleveland, Ohio, where he starred in the play Purlie victorious.
The Cleveland native served in the U.S. Air Force and sold office supplies and cars before leaving for New York at age 36 to pursue acting. He worked menial jobs before landing his first professional role in Ride a black horse at the Negro Ensemble Company. He made his film debut in the 1974 crime thriller The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Cobbs’ career would later see him starring Kevin Costner in 1992 The bodyguardwhich also starred the late Whitney Houston. In the romantic drama directed by Mick Jackson, Cobbs played the role of Bill Devaney, a respectable bodyguard for VIPs. Cobbs also played the role of Arthur Chaney in Disney’s 1997 sports comedy film, air button.
But Costner is far from the only A-lister Cobbs would star alongside. He had a memorable scene with the deceased James Gandolfini in the 2nd season of The Sopranosplaying the role of Reverend James Sr. He played the role of Bill in 2006 Night at the museumin which he appeared alongside Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney, and had a recurring role in the finale Matthew PerryThe short-lived NBC sitcom, Proceed. Some of her other TV credits include Walker, Texas Ranger, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation It is Criminal Minds: Suspicious Behavior.
In 2020, Cobbs won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program for Dino Dana.
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