Bill Cobbs

American actor (1934–2024)

Not to be confused with Bill Cosby.

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|

Bill Cobbs

Cobbs in Dear Secret Santa (2013)

Born|

Wilbert Francisco Cobbs

(1934-06-16)June 16, 1934

Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

Died| June 25, 2024(2024-06-25) (aged 90)

Upland, California, U.S.

Resting place| Riverside National Cemetery
Occupation| Actor
Years active| 1974–2024
Relatives| James Baskett (second cousin)

Wilbert Francisco Cobbs (June 16, 1934 – June 25, 2024) was an American actor, known for such film roles as Louisiana Slim in The Hitter (1979), Walter in The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Reginald in Night at the Museum (2006) and Master Tinker on Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). He also played Lewis Coleman on I'll Fly Away (1991–1993), Jack on The Michael Richards Show (2000), and had guest appearances on Walker, Texas Ranger and The Sopranos. In 2012, he had a reoccurring role as George in the sitcom, Go On. In 2020, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program for the series Dino Dana.[1]

## Early life

[edit]

Wilbert Francisco Cobbs was born on June 16, 1934,[2] in Cleveland, Ohio, to a mother, Vera, who was a domestic worker and a father, David, who worked in construction.[3] He had a brother named Thomas Cobbs.[4] He was the second cousin of Song of the South actor James Baskett.

## Career

[edit]

Cobbs served in the U.S. Air Force as a radar technician for eight years; he also worked in office products at IBM and sold cars in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1970, at the age of 36, he left for New York to seek work as an actor. He supported himself by driving a cab, repairing office equipment, selling toys, and performing odd jobs.[5]

Cobb credited Reuben Silver with his start in acting at the African American Performing Arts Center and Karamu House Theatre in Cleveland.[6] His first professional acting role was in Ride a Black Horse at the Negro Ensemble Company. From there, he appeared in small theater productions, street theater, regional theater, and at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

As an amateur actor in the city's Karamu House Theater, Cobbs starred in the Ossie Davis play Purlie Victorious. Cobbs was in Vegetable Soup (1976), a New York public television educational series, and he made his feature film debut with a one-line role in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three in 1974.[7] Cobbs had an extensive film career over the next several decades including the bartender in Trading Places (1983), the man in the lunchroom in Silkwood (1983), The Brother from Another Planet (1984), The Color of Money (1986), a doctor in Bird (1988), the old man who shoots Wesley Snipes in New Jack City (1991), the grandpa in The People Under the Stairs (1991), the singer's manager in The Bodyguard (1992), a police officer in Demolition Man (1993), the "clock man" in the Coen Brothers' The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Medgar Evers's older brother Charles Evers in Rob Reiner's Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), fictional jazz pianist Del Paxton in Tom Hanks's That Thing You Do (1996),[7] Basketball coach and retired basketball player Arthur Chaney in Disney's Air Bud (1997), Hope Floats (1998), the boat hand porter in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), a doctor in Sunshine State (2002), Enough (2002), and a blues musician in A Mighty Wind (2003).

He also appeared and was a regular on many television programs, including as Lewis Coleman on I'll Fly Away (1991–1993), James on The Gregory Hines Show (1997-1998), Jack on The Michael Richards Show (2000), and George, a blind grief-support-group member, on Go On (2012-2013).[8] He also appeared on Good Times, Sesame Street, The Outer Limits; ER, Six Feet Under; The Others; JAG; The Drew Carey Show; Walker, Texas Ranger, The Sopranos, October Road; One Tree Hill; Star Trek: Enterprise (as Dr. Emory Erickson, inventor of the Transporter); Bill Cobbs also had a small roll, with scene partner, funny, Michael McKean, in Christopher Guest/Eugene Levy hilarious comedy, (dog-show, mockumentary); “Best in Show,” (2000); and many more.

In 2006, Cobbs played a supporting role in Night at the Museum[9] as Reginald, a security guard on the verge of retirement. The character also served as an antagonist to the story. He played a priest in Get Low (2009). He also had brief appearances in the 2010 film The Search for Santa Paws, and the 2011 film The Muppets.

In 2013, Cobbs co-starred in Oz the Great and Powerful[10] as the Master Tinker, and in late 2014 reprised his role of Reginald in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. He recorded a public service announcement for Deejay Ra's Hip-Hop Literacy2 campaign, encouraging reading of Ice-T's autobiography.

In 2020, he guest starred in the two-part series finale of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portraying an unnamed elderly S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.[7] Also in 2020, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program for the series Dino Dana.[11] His last credited appearance came in 2023, in the mini-series Incandescent Love.[7]

## Death

[edit]

Cobbs died at his home in Upland, California, on June 25, 2024, at the age of 90.[4][12] He never married and had no children.[13]

## Filmography

[edit]

Film roles  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1974  | The Taking of Pelham One Two Three | Man on Platform  | [7]
1975  | A Boy and a Boa | Father  | Short film
1977  | Greased Lightning | Mr. Jones  |
1978  | A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich | Bartender  |
1979  | The Hitter | Louisiana Slim  |
1983  | Trading Places | Terry the Bartender  | [7]
1983  | Silkwood | Man in Lunchroom  |
1984  | The Brother from Another Planet | Walter  | [7]
1984  | The Cotton Club | Big Joe Ison  |
1985  | Compromising Positions | Sgt. Williams  |
1986  | The Color of Money | Orvis  | [7]
1987  | Five Corners | Man in Coffee Shop  |
1987  | Suspect | Judge Franklin  |
1988  | Dominick and Eugene | Jesse Johnson  |
1988  | Bird | Dr. Caulfield  |
1989  | The January Man | Detective Reilly  |
1989  | Picking Tribes | Voice-over  | Short film
1991  | New Jack City | Old Man  |
1991  | The Hard Way | Raggedy Man  |
1991  | The People Under the Stairs | Grandpa Booker  |
1992  | Roadside Prophets | Oscar  |
1992  | Exiled in America | Abraham White  |
1992  | The Bodyguard | Bill Devaney  | [7]
1993  | Demolition Man | Zachery Lamb - Aged  |
1993  | Fatal Instinct | Man in Park  | Uncredited
1994  | The Hudsucker Proxy | Moses  | [7]
1995  | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | Malt  |
1995  | Fluke | Bert  |
1995  | Man with a Gun | Henry Griggs  |
1995  | Tuesday Morning Ride | Jeff  | Short film
1995  | Goldilocks and the Three Bears | Caleb  |
1995  | Captiva Island | Vernon  |
1996  | Ed | Tipton  |
1996  | First Kid | Speet  |
1996  | That Thing You Do! | Del Paxton  |
1996  | Ghosts of Mississippi | Charles Evers  |
1997  | Soulmates | Mr. Williams  |
1997  | Air Bud | Coach Arthur Chaney  |
1998  | Paulie | Virgil the Janitor  |
1998  | Hope Floats | Nurse  |
1998  | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Estes  |
1999  | Random Hearts | Marvin  |
2002  | Sunshine State | Dr. Elton Lloyd  |
2002  | Enough | Jim Toller  |
2003  | A Mighty Wind | Blues Musician  |
2004  | The Mortuary | Franklin Harmon  |
2004  | Lost | Jeremy's Boss  |
2005  | Inner Demon | Arnold  | Short film
2005  | Squirrel Man | Morgan Wendell  | Short film
2005  | Duck | Norman  |
2005  | Return to Sender | Saul Burroughs  | Short film
2005  | The Derby Stallion | Houston Jones  |
2005  | The Final Patient | Dr. Daniel Green  |
2005  | Special Ed | Lou  |
2006  | Sent | Doctor  | Short film
2006  | Hard Luck | Cobb  | Direct-to-video
2006  | The Ultimate Gift | Mr. Theophilus Hamilton  |
2006  | Night at the Museum | Reginald  | [7]
2006  | Sweet Deadly Dreams | Barney  |
2007  | Three Days to Vegas | Marvin Jeffries  |
2008  | Grim Abdication | Enforcer  | Short film
2008  | This Man's Life | Myer Truman  | Short film
2008  | The Morgue | George  | Direct-to-video
2008  | The Dark Horse | Quincey  | Short film
2009  | The Rebel Heart | Cephas Cordner  |
2009  | My Summer Friend | Walter  | Short film
2009  | Get Low | Rev. Charlie Jackson  |
2009  | Steadfast | John  | Short film
2009  | Black Water Transit | Frank Vermillion  |
2009  | Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian | Reginald  | Scene deleted
2010  | No Limit Kids: Much Ado About Middle School | Charlie  |
2010  | The Search for Santa Paws | Mr. Stewart  | Direct-to-video
2010  | The Tenant | Jack Rymer  |
2010  | Stroll | Clayton  | Short film
2011  | The Arcadian | Charles  |
2011  | The Muppets | Grandfather  |
2012  | The Undershepherd | Dr. Ezekiel Cannon  |
2012  | Lukewarm | Thomas  |
2012  | Branch Line | Conductor  | Short film
2013  | Oz the Great and Powerful | Master Tinker  |
2013  | The Ultimate Life | Mr. Theophilus Hamilton  |
2013  | The Last Letter | Pastor  |
2013  | Vampires in Venice | Dr. Dooley  |
2014  | Tiffany at Breakfast | Him  | Short film
2014  | Of Mind and Music | Stompleg  |
2014  | Christmas in Palm Springs | Gabriel  |
2014  | Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb | Reginald  |
2014  | On Angel's Wings | Mr. Dupac  |
2015  | A House Is Not a Home | Paul  |
2015  | The Great Gilly Hopkins | Mr. Randolph  |
2016  | New Life | Mr. Charles  |
2017  | Beyond the Silence | Judge Johnson  |
2017  | Call Me King | Malachi  |
2017  | FuN? | Monte  | Short film
2017  | The Weight | Ezra Thomas  | Short film
2018  | As Evil Does | Jeremiah  |
2018  | Clipped Wings, They Do Fly | Judge Johnson  |
2019  | Beyond the Law | Swilley  |
2020  | Dino Dana: The Movie | Mr. Hendrickson  |
2021  | Saving Paradise | John Thompson  |
2022  | Block Party | Uncle Jim  |
2022  | Caroltyn | Dr. Mason  | Last film prior to death
Television roles  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1975  | First Ladies Diaries: Rachel Jackson | George  | TV movie
1976  | Good Times | George Gillard  | Episode: "Evans Versus Davis"
1977–1978  | Baby, I'm Back | Att. Adam Johnson  | 2 episodes
1978  | King |  | Miniseries
1982  | The Member of the Wedding | T.T. Williams  | TV movie
1983  | Rage of Angels | Abraham Wilson  | Miniseries
1985  | The Equalizer | Barry  | Episode: "The Distant Fire"
1985  | Sesame Street | Lee  | Episode #17.30
1986  | Johnny Bull | Wiggins  | TV movie
1986  | Kate & Allie | Sam Butcher  | 2 episodes
1987  | Spenser: For Hire | Larry Sills  | Episode: "If You Knew Sammy"
1987–1988  | The Slap Maxwell Story | The Dutchman  | Main cast
1988  | L.A. Law | Webb Johnson  | Episode: "Belle of the Bald"
1989  | Homeroom | Phil Drexler  | Main cast
1990  | Designing Women | Henry / Charlie  | Episode: "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"
1990  | Married People | Willis  | Episode: "Money Changes Everything"
1990  | Gabriel's Fire | Walker Green  | Episode: "I'm Nobody"
1990  | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | Fish Fry Baby  | Episode: "Rosie Gets the Blues"
1990  | Decoration Day | Gee Pennywell  | TV movie
1990  | Moe's World |  | TV Pilot
1991  | True Colors | Bernard Freeman  | Episode: "Favorite Son"
1991  | Carolina Skeletons | Elijah Crooks  | TV movie
1991–1993  | I'll Fly Away | Lewis Coleman  | Main cast
1993  | Coach | George  | Episode: "Why So Happy, Hayden?"
1993  | I'll Fly Away: Then and Now | Lewis Coleman  | TV movie
1994  | Empty Nest | Jerome  | Episode: "Gesundeit"
1994  | Northern Exposure | Angelo Maxwell  | Episode: "The Letter"
1995  | Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long | Pullman Porter  | TV movie
1995  | The Watcher |  | Episode: "Reversal of Fortune"
1995  | Divas | Sippy  | TV movie
1995  | Out There | Lyman Weeks  | TV movie
1996  | NYPD Blue | Norval Stevens  | Episode: "The Nutty Confessor"
1996  | ER | Mr. Bowman  | Episode: "The Match Game"
1996  | Nightjohn | Old Man  | TV movie
1996  | Thrill | Norm Duprey  | TV movie
1996  | Stories from the Edge |  | TV movie; Segment: "Tuesday Morning Ride"
1997  | The Outer Limits | Second Elder - Prisoner No. 91777  | Episode: "The Camp"
1997  | Walker, Texas Ranger | Gino Costa  | Episode: "Full Contact"
1997  | The Wayans Bros. | Fred Watson  | Episode: "The Black Widower"
1997  | High Incident | Emmett  | Episode: "Starting Over"
1997–1998  | The Gregory Hines Show | James Stevenson  | Main cast
1998  | Always Outnumbered | Right Burke  | TV movie
1998  | The Wild Thornberrys | Chief (voice)  | Episode: "Dinner with Darwin"
1998  | L.A. Doctors | Bob  | Episode: "What About Bob?"
1998–1999  | For Your Love | Uncle Stanley  | 2 episodes
1999  | The Outer Limits | Joe Dell  | Episode: "Fathers and Sons"
2000  | The Sopranos | Reverend James, Sr.  | Episode: "Do Not Resuscitate"
2000  | The Practice | Arthur Turner  | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part"
2000  | The Others | Elmer Greentree  | Main cast
2000  | For All Time | Proprietor / Conductor  | TV movie
2000  | The Michael Richards Show | Jack  | Main cast
2001  | The Fighting Fitzgeralds | Chet Armatrow  | Episode: "The Fire Fight"
2001  | Touched by an Angel | Henry Baldwin  | Episode: "Band of Angels"
2001  | Six Feet Under | Mr. Jones  | Episode: "The Room"
2001  | Rugrats | Uncle Charles (voice)  | Episode: "A Rugrats Kwanzaa"
2001  | Philly | Warren Bell  | Episode: "Loving Sons"
2001  | Bitter Winter |  | TV movie
2001–2003  | JAG | Chaplain Matthew Turner  | 4 episodes
2002  | The West Wing | Alan Tatum  | Episode: "Enemies Foreign and Domestic"
2002  | My Wife and Kids | Minister  | 2 episodes
2002–2004  | The Drew Carey Show | Tony  | 9 episodes
2003  | The Division | Mr. Greene  | Episode: "Strangers"
2003  | NYPD Blue | Bernie Carpenter  | Episode: "Maybe Baby"
2004  | Soul Food | Mr. Bradford  | Episode: "Fear Eats the Soul"
2005  | Star Trek: Enterprise | Dr. Emory Erickson  | Episode: "Daedalus"
2005  | Yes, Dear | Starter  | Episode: "Greg's a Mooch"
Counterman  | Episode: "Barbecue"
2007  | October Road | Mr. Bolivar  | Episode: "Forever Until Now"
2007  | Side Order of Life | Eddie Morgan  | Episode: "Separation Anxiety"
2008  | Players at the Poker Palace | Bill  | Episode: "A Couple of Black Yankees"
2008  | Army Wives | Harry  | Episode: "The Messenger"
2008  | One Tree Hill | Gus  | Episode: "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream: Part I"
2008  | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Harry Bastille  | Episode: "Young Man with a Horn"
2010  | The Glades | Gregory Richmond  | Episode: "Honey"
2011  | Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior | Bishop Sanford  | Episode: "Lonely Hearts"
2011  | Harry's Law | Judge  | Episode: "American Dreams"
2012–2013  | Go On | George  | Recurring
2013  | Back in the Game | James  | Episode: "Night Games"
2013  | Dear Secret Santa | Ted  | TV movie
2014  | The Bay | Boyd Bloom  | 1 episode
2014  | Rake | Judge Rutchland  | Recurring
2015  | Hand of God | Papa Gene  | 2 episodes
2016  | The Ultimate Legacy | Mr. Theophilus Hamilton  | TV movie
2016  | The Mastermind 5 | The Mentor  | TV Pilot
2016–2017  | Greenleaf | Henry McCready  | Recurring
2017  | The Carmichael Show | Vernon  | Episode: "Evelyn & Vernon"
2017  | My Christmas Grandpa | Fred  | TV Short
2017  | Hannah Royce's Questionable Choices | Jack  | TV Pilot
2017–2019  | Dino Dana | Mr. Hendrickson  | 6 episodes
2018  | Superior Donuts | Luther "Wheels" Langdon  | Episode: "Always Bet On Black"
2020  | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Elderly S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent  | Episode: "The End Is at Hand"
2023  | Incandescent Love | Daddy D-Usher  | Miniseries; final role[7]

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Association  | Category  | Work  | Result

|
|
|
|

2006  | Trenton Film Festival  | Narrative Feature - Best Actor  | The Final Patient | Winner
2019  | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in a Children's, Family Viewing or Special Class Program  | Dino Dana | Nominated
2020  | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Limited Performance in Daytime Program  | Dino Dana | Winner

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Winners of the 47th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards - Children's, Lifestyle & Animation Ceremony" (PDF). theemmys.tv. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
2. ^ Barnes, Mike (June 26, 2024). "Bill Cobbs, Actor in 'The Hudsucker Proxy,' 'Night at the Museum' and 'Air Bud,' Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
3. ^ "Bill Cobbs Biography (1934-2024)". Film Reference. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
4. ^ a b "Bill Cobbs, character actor known for 'Air Bud' and 'The Bodyguard,' dies at 90". Los Angeles Times. June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
5. ^ "12 Facts to Know About Seasoned Actor Wilbert "Bill" Cobbs". Your Black World. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
6. ^ Wolff, Carlo (June 10, 2014). "Cleveland theater legend Reuben Silver recalled by friends, family, colleagues". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Petri, Alexandra (June 27, 2024). "Bill Cobbs, 'Bodyguard' and 'Night at the Museum' Actor, Dies at 90". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
8. ^ "Bill Cobbs, 'The Bodyguard' and 'Air Bud' Actor, Dead at 90". wkyc.com. June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
9. ^ "'Night at the Museum' director teases another sequel — and a Broadway musical". Los Angeles Times. September 11, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
10. ^ O'Connor, Clint; Dealer, The Plain (March 9, 2013). "Bill Cobbs: Cleveland-native and Karamu House vet shines in 'Oz the Great and Powerful'". cleveland. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
11. ^ "Winners of the 47th Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards - Children's, Lifestyle & Animation Ceremony" (PDF). theemmys.tv. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
12. ^ "Bill Cobbs, 'The Sopranos' and 'The Bodyguard' character actor, dies at 90". TheWrap. June 26, 2024.
13. ^ Petri, Alexandra E (June 27, 2024). "Bill Cobbs, 'Bodyguard' and 'Night at the Museum' Actor, Dies at 90". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved September 27, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Bill Cobbs at IMDb

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