Comic actor, John Witherspoon, has died at the age of 77, his family confirmed Tuesday, 29th October.
The actor best known for his role as Ice Cube’s father in the “Friday”, who had a long career in stand-up comedy, television and movies dating back more than 40 years, passed away at his Sherman Oaks home on Tuesday.
The cause of death is yet to be announced.
John Witherspoon was best known for playing Willie Jones, the father of Ice Cube’s character in the cult-hit comedy that spawned two sequels and an animated series and also the voice of famous Grand dad/pops on the “Boondocks”.
Witherspoon’s family tweeted: “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.”
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
Immediately, tributes began pouring in for the actor.
Actress Regina King tweeted: “My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration! I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King.”
My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration! I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King pic.twitter.com/U6GsNrrKXF
— Regina King (@ReginaKing) October 30, 2019
🎤 This day began with such joy.
And it’s ending with this heart wrenching news of John Witherspoon’s passing. One of our comic brothers. 🌹 RIP pic.twitter.com/efSqqw6BHJ— Arsenio Hall (@ArsenioHall) October 30, 2019
Makua Okafor tweeted, “I can’t believe this. Just started watching Black Jesus season 3 and I fell in love with him for the second time already. May his soul R.I.P.”
Making it more emotional, Jay Pharaoh tweeted, ” My heart hurts so much right now, RIP to John Witherspoon,I appreciate our conversations and the wisdom you gave me as a young comic, we lost a real one today and It’d be remiss to not say he was and is irreplaceable and a invaluable icon in the comedic community sleep easy man😥”.
Witherspoon was also in multiple music videos. He made appearances in the visuals for JAY-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” and Field Mob’s “Sick Of Being Lonely.” Made his feature film debut in 1980 in “The Jazz Singer” and later appearing in films like Vampire In Brooklyn, Hollywood Shuffle, Boomerang, I’m Gonna Get Your Sucka, Soul Plane, The Meteor Man, and many more.
He was born at Detroit in 1942 as John Weatherspoon, before he embarked on a stand-up comedy career. He is survived by wife, Angela, and his sons JD, Alexander, and ‘a large family,’ according to the family’s statement.
