He taught Ice Cube how to be a man in the 90s hit film “Friday.”
John Witherspoon, a Detroit native, has died at the age of 77.
“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,” reads a statement from his family.
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.
— John Witherspoon (@John_POPS_Spoon) October 30, 2019
- The Witherspoon Family pic.twitter.com/ov9P34kaMn
Witherspoon had a recurring role in the “Friday” films and made plenty of cameos throughout his career that started back on “The Richard Pryor Show” in 1977.
He earned his first film roll in the 1980 movie “The Jazz Singer.”
He’s also known as the voice of “Granddad” in the popular cartoon show “The Boondocks.”
The news of his passing has celebrities paying tribute on Twitter.
I’m devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon. Life won’t be as funny without him. pic.twitter.com/gtmiZiEppP
— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 30, 2019
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
Pure funny. Hilarious and always kind. John Witherspoon will be missed. https://t.co/sctMZc2O0k
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) October 30, 2019
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😥 pic.twitter.com/whOsWNq3t0
— Jay Pharoah (@JayPharoah) October 30, 2019