Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
'Friday' Actor-Comedian John Witherspoon Dies at 77
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
October 30, 2019

Share

LOS ANGELES — Actor-comedian John Witherspoon, who memorably played Ice Cube’s father in the “Friday” films, has died. He was 77.
Witherspoon’s family issued a statement to the website Deadline saying that Witherspoon died Tuesday in Los Angeles. No cause of death was released.
The actor had a prolific career, co-starring in three “Friday” films, appearing on “The Wayans Bros.” television series and voicing the grandfather in “The Boondocks” animated series. His film roles included “Vampire in Brooklyn” and “Boomerang,” and he was a frequent guest on “Late Show with David Letterman.”
For many, his most recognizable role was “Pops,” Ice Cube’s father in the stoner comedy “Friday” and its two sequels, a crude but affectionate father trying to guide his son to be better.
“Life won’t be as funny without him,” Ice Cube said in a Twitter post late Tuesday, adding that he was devastated by news of Witherspoon’s death.

The Family’s Statement Expressed Shock at Witherspoon’s Death

Regina King, who appeared as Witherspoon’s daughter in “Friday” and also voiced both of his grandsons in the animated series “The Boondocks” called him her “comedic inspiration” on Twitter.
The family’s statement expressed shock at Witherspoon’s death. It said Witherspoon is survived by his wife, Angela, and sons JD and Alexander.
JD Witherspoon tweeted that he was happy for all the great times he and his dad had together.
“We’d roast each other like homies more than Father & Son, and I really liked that. He was my best friend & my idol,” JD Witherspoon posted. “Love U Dad…I’ll miss u.”
The actor-comedian was born Jan. 27, 1942.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

White House Confirms Trump Fired Librarian of Congress

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Lee Brewer

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Awards Honorary Doctorates to Educator, Prisons Official, Businessman

DON'T MISS

Floods Exposed Weaknesses in California Prisons’ Emergency Plans. They Still Aren’t Ready

DON'T MISS

White House Dismisses Democrats on Consumer Product Safety Commission

DON'T MISS

Residents Stockpile Food, Rush to Bunkers as Conflict Rattles India and Pakistan

DON'T MISS

Other States Are Showing California How to Protect Its Budget Without Cutting Needed Services

DON'T MISS

Nitrous Oxide Recreational Use Risks: Brain Damage, Death, and Easy Access

DON'T MISS

Federal Cuts Threaten Science, Ethics, and Public Health

DON'T MISS

Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter, a Republican Who Became a Liberal Darling, Dies at 85

UP NEXT

Shohei Ohtani Could Have Landed 15-Year Deal, Agent Says, but He Didn’t Want to Risk Skills Decline

UP NEXT

Los Angeles Coliseum and SoFi Stadium to Share Opening and Closing Ceremonies for 2028 Olympics

UP NEXT

Gas Up and Go: These Car Shows Are the Ultimate Road-Trip Destinations

UP NEXT

Freeman’s Bases-Loaded Triple Helps Dodgers Beat Marlins

UP NEXT

Robbie Ray Pitches 6 Effective Innings as the Giants Beat the Cubs

UP NEXT

Welcome to Reno, the Mighty Mecca of All-You-Can-Eat Sushi

UP NEXT

The Steelers Move on From George Pickens by Trading Mercurial Receiver to Cowboys

UP NEXT

Jesús Sánchez’s RBI Single in 10th Inning Lifts Marlins to Win Over Dodgers

UP NEXT

Giants Score 9 Runs in the 11th Inning to Beat the Cubs

UP NEXT

Warriors Take Game 1 From Cold-Shooting Wolves Despite Curry’s Departure With Hamstring Strain

Floods Exposed Weaknesses in California Prisons’ Emergency Plans. They Still Aren’t Ready

59 minutes ago

White House Dismisses Democrats on Consumer Product Safety Commission

1 hour ago

Residents Stockpile Food, Rush to Bunkers as Conflict Rattles India and Pakistan

1 hour ago

Other States Are Showing California How to Protect Its Budget Without Cutting Needed Services

2 hours ago

Nitrous Oxide Recreational Use Risks: Brain Damage, Death, and Easy Access

2 hours ago

Federal Cuts Threaten Science, Ethics, and Public Health

2 hours ago

Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter, a Republican Who Became a Liberal Darling, Dies at 85

2 hours ago

Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass as Pope and Calls His Election Both a Cross and a Blessing

2 hours ago

Texas Measles Cases Rise to 709, State Health Department Says

2 hours ago

The Latest: Trump Floats Cutting China Tariffs to 80% Ahead of Weekend Meeting

2 hours ago

White House Confirms Trump Fired Librarian of Congress

(Reuters) – President Donald Trump fired the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, because she wasn’t serving the interests of th...

6 minutes ago

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden speaks during a discussion with historians on how to "establish and preserve the narrative of January 6th" on the one-year anniversary of the attack on the Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2022. Al Drago/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
6 minutes ago

White House Confirms Trump Fired Librarian of Congress

Michael Lee Brewer is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for May 8, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
50 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Lee Brewer

55 minutes ago

Fresno State Awards Honorary Doctorates to Educator, Prisons Official, Businessman

59 minutes ago

Floods Exposed Weaknesses in California Prisons’ Emergency Plans. They Still Aren’t Ready

Signage is seen outside of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in Rockville, Maryland, U.S., August 31, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
1 hour ago

White House Dismisses Democrats on Consumer Product Safety Commission

People shop for essential goods at a supermarket in Amritsar, India, May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas
1 hour ago

Residents Stockpile Food, Rush to Bunkers as Conflict Rattles India and Pakistan

2 hours ago

Other States Are Showing California How to Protect Its Budget Without Cutting Needed Services

2 hours ago

Nitrous Oxide Recreational Use Risks: Brain Damage, Death, and Easy Access

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend