Actor-comedian John Witherspoon dies at 77

John Witherspoon
(Image credit: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Explore More
Peter Weber, The Week US

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.