Veteran Actor Bill Cobbs Known for Demolition Man and Air Bud Dies at 90
Bill Cobbs, a seasoned Hollywood actor celebrated for his roles in “Demolition Man,” “That Thing You Do!” and “Air Bud,” has passed away at the age of 90. The news of his death was confirmed by his brother, Thomas Cobbs, who shared on Facebook that the actor died 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 wrote. The family expressed their comfort in knowing that Bill has found peace and eternal rest with his Heavenly Father, and they requested prayers and encouragement during this time.
With a career spanning five decades, Cobbs amassed 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!” Cobbs’ career began in the mid-1970s on the stage, with Broadway productions such as “Black Picture Show” and “The First Breeze of Summer.” He also later appeared in stage productions for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Throughout the ’70s and into the ’80s, Cobbs’ career flourished. He appeared in various TV shows and TV movies, including “Good Times,” “The Equalizer,” “One Life to Live,” and “Sesame Street.” His film credits during this period included “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. He also played Webb Johnson in one episode of the legal drama series “L.A. Law” that same year.
The 1990s were a dynamic period for Cobbs. He appeared alongside Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in the 1992 Oscar-nominated thriller “The Bodyguard,” playing the role of Devaney. In 1993, he starred in the sci-fi thriller “Demolition Man” alongside Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock. In 1996, Cobbs played a fictional jazz pianist in the musical comedy “That Thing You Do!” starring Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler, and Steve Zahn.
The following year, he portrayed Arthur Chaney in the beloved family-friendly movie “Air Bud,” about a Golden Retriever who plays on a high school basketball team. On TV, Cobbs had one-off roles in classic shows throughout the ’90s, including “ER,” “The Sopranos,” “The Wayans Bros.,” and “Northern Exposure.” He was also a series regular on the first season of “The Gregory Hines Show.”
Cobbs continued to appear in iconic TV shows in the 2000s, including “Six Feet Under,” “The West Wing,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “NYPD Blue,” and “JAG.” In 2006, he played Reginald in the Shawn Levy-directed “Night at the Museum” and reprised the character in the 2014 sequel “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.” In 2013, Cobbs played Master Tinker in the cinematic adaptation of “Oz The Great and Powerful,” based on author L. Frank Baum’s “Oz” books.
In 2020, Cobbs appeared on the TVOKids children’s series “Dino Dana,” which won him a Daytime Emmy for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program. His final acting credit came in 2023 when he appeared in the TV mini-series “Incandescent Love.”
Cobbs’ passion for acting never waned throughout his decades-long career. “I enjoy what I do, I really enjoy it,” he said in a 2012 interview. “It’s exciting to have a project and work on it and see it come to fruition, so I can find joy doing this so much.”
Bill Cobbs was born on June 16, 1934, and raised in Cleveland. He served in the Air Force for eight years and worked at IBM and as a car salesman before moving to New York at 36 to pursue acting. He acted in several small television and theater roles before making his feature film debut in the 1974 crime thriller “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.”
Cobbs is known for films including 1997’s “Air Bud” and 1993’s “Demolition Man” and starred opposite Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in 1992’s “The Bodyguard.” He also played Reginald in the “Night at the Museum” films, forming a trio of antagonistic security guards alongside Mickey Rooney and Dick Van Dyke. In “New Jack City” (1991), he played the key role of the Old Man.
In 2020, the seasoned actor won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for his portrayal of Mr. Hendrickson on the series “Dino Dana.”
Cobbs rarely got the kinds of major parts that stand out and win awards. Instead, he was a familiar and memorable everyman who left an impression on audiences, regardless of screen time. Wendell Pierce, who acted alongside Cobbs in “I’ll Fly Away” and “The Gregory Hines Show,” remembered Cobbs as “a father figure, a griot, an iconic artist that mentored me by the way he led his life as an actor,” he wrote on Twitter/X.
Wilbert Francisco Cobbs, born June 16, 1934, served eight years in the US Air Force after graduating high school in Cleveland. In the years after his service, Cobbs sold cars. One day, a customer asked him if he wanted to act in a play. Cobbs first appeared on stage in 1969. He began to act in Cleveland theater and later moved to New York, where he joined the Negro Ensemble Company, acting alongside Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.
Cobbs later said acting resonated with him as a way to express the human condition, particularly during the civil rights movement in the late ’60s. “To be an artist, you have to have a sense of giving,” Cobbs said in a 2004 interview. “Art is somewhat of a prayer, isn’t it? We respond to what we see around us and what we feel and how things affect us mentally and spiritually.”
Bill Cobbs’ legacy as a versatile and dedicated actor will be remembered by fans and colleagues alike. His contributions to film and television have left an indelible mark on the industry, and his performances will continue to be cherished for years to come.
Source: CNN, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, IMDb, WJW
