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ActorJohn Witherspoondies on the spur of the moment in California . The popular character role player is best known for playing father figure in the 1995 comedyFridayand The WB seriesThe Wayans Bros. Witherspoon was 77 years sometime .
Born and raised in Detroit , Witherspoon had long been part of the amusement diligence . His elder blood brother William Witherspoon wrote birdcall for Motown Records , most notably David Ruffin ’s 1966 exclusive “ What Becomes of the Brokenhearted . ” During the same fourth dimension full stop , John Witherspoon begin a career in digest - up comedy , and at last made his television debut in 1977 onThe Richard Pryor Show . He subsequently receive act role on mainstream serial likeWhat ’s Happening!!andGood Times , briefly before cross over into feature picture withThe Jazz Singerin 1980.Eddie Murphyfans may think back Witherspoon for performances inBoomerangandVampire in Brooklyn , and the actor became even more illustrious in the ‘ ninety by starring in the aforementionedFridayandThe Wayans Bros. , limn Willie Jones and Pops , respectively . In late years , Witherspoon voiced Granddad Freeman on Adult Swim’sThe hinterland .
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PerDeadline , Witherspoon passed away suddenly at his home in Sherman Oaks , California . The actor ’s category confirmed the news show and stated,“We are all in shock , please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will fete his life and his employment together . ”In 2019 , Witherspoon riposte to boast films after seven years by , appearing inI get the Hook Up 2andReality Queen . Witherspoon had also been busy with vocalisation acting , as he portrayed Lloyd onBlack Jesusand appeared in one episode of Adult Swim’sThe Jellies!Witherspoon had reportedly been active on the stand - up comedy circuit as well . The actor ’s class also stated,“John used to say ‘ I ’m no big deal ’ , but he was vast deal to us . ”Witherspoon married Angela Robinson in 1988 and had two sons , J.D. and Alexander .
Witherspoon had planned to reprise his purpose as Willie Jones in the approaching franchise filmLast Friday . In 1995 , F. Gary Gray ’s franchise - starter , Friday , launch the life history ofChris Tucker , and madeIce Cubemore visible in pop refinement beyond his solo recording career and association with the groundbreaking coxa - hop radical N.W.A. Witherspoon return for the 2000 sequelNext Friday , along with the third installmentFriday After Nextin 2002 .
On Twitter , the phrase“Not Pops”is trending in the United States as Witherspoon ’s fans , friends , and collaborators mourn his death . Ice Cube stated,“I’m devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon . Life wo n’t be as funny without him,”while actor David Alan Grier tweeted,“RIP my brother . You will be missed . Mannnnnnn this is a surd one . ”
In pa culture , Witherspoon may be sleep together for playing older characters , but his influence gallop across various demographics . Based on social medium reaction to the actor ’s expiry , Witherspoon was clearly adore for various reasons , whether it ’s his famed picture show role , late tv set appearances , or just his direction of slip a scene wherever he showed up .
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Source : Deadline , Ice Cube , David Alan Grier