Bill Cobbs, the esteemed Daytime Emmy-winning actor known for his roles in “The Bodyguard” and the “Night at the Museum” series, has passed away at the age of 90. Cobbs’ longtime manager, Susan Zachary, confirmed his death on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, stating, “He was one of my first clients in each incarnation of this leg of my professional career. I am honored and proud to be his last talent representative. He was loyal and dear… an inspiring actor, director, and human. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 16, 1934, Cobbs led a varied life before finding his calling in acting. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a radar technician for eight years, worked at IBM, and sold cars before moving to New York City at 36 to pursue acting full-time. His first professional acting role was in the Negro Ensemble Company’s production of “Ride a Black Horse.”
Cobbs made his TV debut in the educational series “Vegetable Soup” and his film debut in 1974’s “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.” Over his nearly 50-year career, he accumulated over 150 film and TV credits. Notable among these were his roles as Bill Devaney in “The Bodyguard” and Reginald the night guard in “Night at the Museum.” He also appeared in “Air Bud,” “Oz the Great and Powerful,” and earned a Daytime Emmy for his role as Mr. Hendrickson in the series “Dino Dana.”
His family released a statement saying, “We are saddened to share the passing of Bill Cobbs. On Tuesday, June 25, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in California. A beloved partner, big brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather, and friend, Bill recently and happily celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by cherished loved ones. As a family, we are comforted knowing Bill has found peace and eternal rest with his Heavenly Father. We ask for your prayers and encouragement during this time.”
Cobbs’ career flourished in his later years, with filmmakers and TV producers frequently turning to him for roles that required a wise and soulful presence. His colleagues remember him fondly. Actor Wendell Pierce described Cobbs as “a father figure, a griot, an iconic artist that mentored me by the way he led his life as an actor.” Cobbs once said that acting resonated with him as a way to express the human condition, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s.
In addition to his film and television work, Cobbs was a prominent figure in theater. He performed in numerous stage productions, including the Ossie Davis play “Purlie Victorious,” which he credited with profoundly impacting his career. Cobbs said, “That play taught me that there were a lot of things I could say in theater, on the stage and in movies and in television, that were very important, that were meaningful things, that in addition to being a means of entertaining people and touching them in different ways, there were things you could say related to the human condition.”
Despite his extensive body of work, Cobbs rarely received leading roles but made a significant impact through his numerous supporting performances. His ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters made him a beloved figure in the industry.
He leaves a legacy of memorable performances and a reputation as a kind and generous mentor to many in the acting community.
Cobbs is survived by his family, friends, and colleagues who admired and loved him.
