Craig Zablo

Bill Cobbs died Tuesday, June 25, 2024.  Mr. Cobbs was 90.

After high school, Bill Cobbs served eight years in the Air Force.  Upon his discharge, he returned to his hometown of Cleveland.  There Mr. Cobbs took jobs as a salesman.  He also began acting at the African American Performing Arts Center and Karamu House Theatre in Cleveland.  He had found his calling.

At the age of 36, Bill Cobbs moved to New York to pursue a career in acting.  Mr. Cobbs first acting roles were in street theater, small theater productions and ultimately the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on Broadway.  Bill Cobbs first feature film appearance was in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.  For the remainder of his career, Mr. Cobbs took roles on television and feature films.

Television appearances of Bill Cobbs include: First Ladies Diary: Rachel Jackson; Good Times; Baby, I’m Back; The Member of the Wedding; Rage of Angels; The Equalizer; One Life to Live; Sesame Street (2 episodes); Kate & Allie (2 episodes); Spenser for Hire; L.A. Law; The Slap Maxwell Story (20 episodes); Homeroom (13 episodes); Designing Women; Married People; Decoration Day; True Colors; Carolina Skeletons; I’ll Fly Away (13 episodes); Coach; I’ll Fly Away: Then and Now; Empty Nest; Northern Exposure; Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long; The Watcher; Divas; ER; Walker, Texas Ranger; The Wayans Bros; Always Outnumbered; The Wild Thornberrys; For Your Love (2 episodes); The Gregory Hines Show (21 episodes); The Outer Limits (2 episodes); The Sopranos; The Practice; The Others (13 episodes); For All Time; The Michael Richards Show (9 episodes); The Fighting Fitzgeralds; Touched By An Angel; Rugrats; Six Feet Under; Philly; The West Wing; My Wife and Kids (2 episodes); N.Y.P.D. Blue (2 episodes); 10-8: Officers On Duty; JAG (4 episodes); Soul Food; The Drew Carey Show (9 episodes); Star Trek: Enterprise; Yes, Dear (2 episodes); October Road; Army Wives; One Tree Hill; C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation; The Glades; Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior; Harry’s Law; Go On (10 episodes); Back in the Game; Rake (4 episodes); Hand of God (2 episodes); Greenleaf (4 episodes); Dino Dana (6 episodes); Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Incandescent Love.

Feature film appearances of Bill Cobbs include: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three; Greased Lightning; A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ But a Sandwich; The Hitter; Trading Places; Silkwood; The Brother From Another Planet; The Cotton Club; The Color of Money; Streets of Gold; Suspect; Dominic & Eugene; Bird; The January Man; New Jack City; The Hard Way; The People Under the Stairs; The Bodyguard; Demolition Man; Fatal Instinct; The Hudsucker Proxy; Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead; Fluke; That Thing That You Do; Ghosts of Mississippi; Air Bud; Hope Floats; I Still Know What You Did Last Summer; Random Hearts; Sunshine State; Enough; A Mighty Wind; Special Ed; Night at the Museum; The Muppets; Oz the Great and Powerful; Of Mind and Music and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

Bill Cobbs had a career where many folks might not have known his name, but knew when he appeared onscreen, the show just got better.  I don’t remember when I first saw Mr. Cobbs act.  It may have been in that episode of Good Times.  I do know that when I think of Bill Cobbs, the first thing that comes to mind is his performance in Demolition Man. Looking at Bill Cobbs’ partial resume above, it becomes clear how talented he was.  If there was a Hall of Fame for character actors, Bill Cobb would be a shoe-in.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Bill Cobb’s family, friends and fans.