Bill Cobbs Obituary, Death, Veteran Actor Dies At 90, Roles in ‘Bodyguard,’ ‘Air Bud’; Bill Cobbs, an esteemed actor with over 50 years of experience in Hollywood, has passed away at the age of 90. TMZ has confirmed that Bill died Tuesday night at his home in Riverside, CA, according to his publicist, Chuck I. Jones. The cause of death remains unclear.
Bill Cobbs’ illustrious acting career began in the 1970s, earning him nearly 200 movie and TV show credits. Among his notable roles, he played Devaney, one of Whitney Houston’s staffers, in “The Bodyguard,” Louisiana Slim in “The Hitter” (1979), Walter in “The Brother from Another Planet” (1984), and Reginald in “Night at the Museum” (2006). He also appeared as Master Tinker in “Oz the Great and Powerful” (2013) and Arthur Chaney in “Air Bud” (1997). His feature film debut was in 1974 with a role in “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.”
In television, Bill had a recurring role as Lewis Coleman on “I’ll Fly Away” in the early 1990s and made guest appearances on shows like “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “The Sopranos.” He won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program for his work on the children’s show “Dino Dana.”
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Bill served in the Air Force for eight years and worked at IBM and as a car salesman before moving to New York to pursue acting. Beyond the screen, Bill also acted in theater productions and played the drums.
Bill had recently celebrated his 90th birthday on June 16th. His family, including his relative Thomas Cobbs, commemorated this milestone. Thomas shared on Facebook that the family celebrated together and described Bill as a “beloved partner, big brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather, and friend.” He added, “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.”
Bill Cobbs’ legacy in the entertainment industry and his impact on those who knew him will be long remembered. Rest in peace.
