He had just turned 90. The American actor Bill Cobbs, famous for his roles in over 150 television series and films such as The Bodyguard died at age 90 at his home in California. His family broke the news. “A beloved companion, big brother, uncle, adoptive father, godfather and friend, Bill recently and joyfully celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by his loved ones,” his younger brother, Thomas Cobbs, wrote on Facebook, adding that he has died “peacefully” at home.
With a half-century career as an actor, Cobbs has appeared in films such as Bodyguardwhere he starred alongside Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, And A night at the museum alongside Ben Stiller, where he was one of the old guard wardens, warden Reginald, with Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney.
But in addition to cinema he has participated in TV series such as The Sopranos, The West Wing, Good Times, Sesame Street And My Wife and Kids. In 2020 she won a Daytime Emmy Award for her appearance on the Canadian children’s series Dino Dana. Cobbs, whose face became familiar to audiences in numerous productions, was considered one of the most important African-American actors of his generation.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Bill served in the Air Force for 8 years and worked at IBM and as a car salesman before moving to New York to begin his acting career. One day, when he was still selling cars, a customer asked him if he wanted to act in a theater show. Cobbs first appeared on stage in 1969. After performing at the Cleveland theater he moved to New York where he joined the Negro Ensemble Company, acting alongside Ossie Davis And Ruby Dee. For the actor, acting was also a form of commitment to civil rights.
