Actor-comedian John Witherspoon dies at 77

Actor-comedian John Witherspoon, who played Ice Cube's dad in all three Friday movies and voiced the grandfather in the animated series The Boondocks, died Tuesday. He was 77. "It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband & father John Witherspoon has passed away," his family tweeted. "We love you 'POPS' always & forever." Over a long career, Witherspoon also collaborated frequently with the Wayan brothers and starred alongside Eddie Murphy in Boomerang and Vampire in Brooklyn, among other films. Most recently, he costarred in the Adult Swim comedy Black Jesus.

Witherspoon is survived by his wife, Angela, and sons JD and Alexander. JD tweeted about his father early Wednesday.

"Life won't be as funny without him," Ice Cube tweeted late Tuesday.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.