Remembering actor Bill Cobbs: Night at the Museum, The Bodyguard, and more

In blockbusters ranging from ‘Trading Places’ to ‘The Bodyguard'

A stand out in children’s movies and shows

Veteran actor Bill Cobbs has died

The American actor Bill Cobbs, who appeared in dozens of prominent film and TV roles, died at the age of 90. His brother announced on Facebook that he passed away surrounded by his family in California.

Nearly 200 credits to his name

While Cobbs wasn’t usually the star of the film, he established his reputation as a stellar character actor over his decades in Hollywood. As a result, he had nearly 200 film and TV credits to his name.

Eight years in the Air Force

But before he ever got to the shining lights of Hollywood, Cobbs worked for eight years as a radar technician in the US Air Force, he said in a 2012 interview with Movie Geeks United. From there, he worked at IBM and sold cars in his hometown of Cleveland Ohio.

Started a career in acting at 36

Something of a late bloomer, Cobbs decided to move to New York and follow his dreams to become an actor at the age of 36, in 1970. He supported himself by driving a cab and performing odd jobs. His first talking film role was in 1974 in ‘.’ In it, he had just one line: “Hey, man. What’s goin’ on?”

Breaking out in blaxploitation

In the late ‘70s, he also stood out in his work on blaxploitation films like ‘The Hitter’ (1978). Blaxploitation films were usually low-budget films that leveraged the momentum of the civil rights movement and spurred Black artists to reclaim power as the stars of movies — not just supporting characters.

Image: ‘The Hitter’ poster, Kaleidoscope Films, Ltd and Adgo Productions

In blockbusters ranging from ‘Trading Places’ to ‘The Bodyguard'

In the 1980s, he had more supporting roles in movies like the Eddie Murphy classic ‘Trading Places,’ the sci-fi cult film ‘The Brother from Another Planet’ and ‘The Color of Money’ with Tom Cruise and Paul Newman. Then, he got one of his more notable roles in the 1992 film ‘The Bodyguard,’ playing Whitney Houston’s manager.

Image: The Bodyguard, Warner Bros.

A stand out in children’s movies and shows

Some of his most standout roles were in children’s movies. He notably played the coach in 1997’s ‘Air Bud’ and then a member of the night guard in ‘Night at the Museum,’ a role he reprised in the sequel ‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.’ In 2020, he won an Emmy for his performance in the children’s show ‘Dino Dana.’

In many of the best TV shows ever

During his career, Cobb appeared on many of the best TV shows. Some standout roles were in ‘The Outer Limits,’ ‘Six Feet Under,’ ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘JAG,’ ‘The West Wing,’ and ‘Star Trek: Enterprise.’ He was also great in sitcoms, part of the main cast in ‘The Michael Richards Show,’ and ‘Go On,’ alongside Matthew Perry, to name a few.

Image: Go On, NBC

Working until the end

Age did not slow Cobbs down, and he excelled at playing older roles on the big and small screen. His last role was in 2023 in the Miniseries ‘Incandescent Love,’ but here he is in the 2018 sitcom ‘Superior Donuts.’

A beloved family man

As his brother Thomas G. Cobbs posted, the actor leaves behind more than a legacy in Hollywood. He was also a beloved partner, big brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather and friend.