Actor and Comedian John Witherspoon Passes Away at Age 77

Bang, Bang, Bang!!!

No one could say the phrase funnier than John Witherspoon. Sadly, the actor and comedian died Tuesday, October 29. His family confirmed his death on Wednesday.

“It is with deepest sorrow that we can confirm our beloved husband and father, John Witherspoon, one of the hardest working men in show business, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks at the age of 77,” the family said in a statement.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1942, Witherspoon began his career in clubs as a stand-up comic. Though he is best known as Ice Cube’s father in the franchise movies Friday, he had been acting since the ’70s with roles on Barnaby Jones and later as the father to Shawn and Marlon Wayans’ characters on “The Wayans Bros.” Witherspoon also made guest appearances on the 90’s sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and who could forget how he reminded people to “Coordinate” a word made popular with his role in the movie Boomerang. His other films included; Hollywood Shuffle, Vampire in Brooklyn, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Bird, and The Meteor Man.

Behind the camera, Witherspoon was the voice of “Granddad” in Boondocks, an animated series that ran from 2005 to 2014. His family’s reference to him being the hardest working man in show business matched his long resume of work. For years to come, you’ll likely see Witherspoon on reruns of retro shows like; Good Times, What’s Happening!! and The Incredible Hulk. Witherspoon also enjoyed a recurring role on The Tracey Morgan Show.

Many celebrities paid tribute to the man whose comedic timing and hilarious facial expressions will not be forgotten. Ice Cube tweeted that “Life won’t be as funny without him.”