John Witherspoon, the beloved actor and comedian, has died, his family has confirmed. He was 77.
Hours after Witherspoon’s death, his family released a Twitter statement (below) announcing the sad news.
“It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband & father John Witherspoon has passed away,” the message read. “He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you ‘POPS’ always & forever.”
It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband & father John Witherspoon has passed away. He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you “POPS” always & forever.
– The Witherspoon Family pic.twitter.com/ov9P34kaMn
— John Witherspoon (@John_POPS_Spoon) October 30, 2019
Witherspoon is perhaps best known for his role as “Pops,” Ice Cube’s father in the stoner comedy “Friday” and its two sequels. He also was the voice of Robert Jebediah “Grandad” Freeman in The Boondocks. For more than four decades, Witherspoon had a long career in stand-up comedy, television and movies. He started as a stand-up comic before landing guest roles on television in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s and in movies like “House Party,” “Boomerang,” “Hollywood Shuffle” and “Vampire in Brooklyn.”
“I’m devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon. Life won’t be as funny without him,” Ice Cube tweeted.
Witherspoon is survived by his wife, Angela, and sons JD and Alexander.
