John Witherspoon, Prolific Character Actor and ‘Friday’

John Witherspoon, a prolific character actor greatest identified for a run of comedic turns in acclaimed movies and cult classics like “Hollywood Shuffle” and the “Friday” franchise, died Tuesday in his Sherman Oaks residence. He was 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” at all times & endlessly,” Witherspoon’s household stated in a press release posted to his Twitter account.

Born John Weatherspoon in Detroit (he modified his title to Witherspoon later) in 1942, he started his profession within the 1960s, performing as an actor, comic and occasional mannequin. He made his tv debut in 1970 on an episode of “Barnaby Jones,” and later within the decade appeared on episodes of “Good Times,” “What’s Happening!!” and “The Incredible Hulk,” in addition to “The Richard Pryor Show.” Other tv appearances embody “WKRP in Cincinnati,” “St. Elsewhere,” “L.A. Law.”

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During the 1980s, Witherspoon turned carefully related to the rise in tv exhibits created by and that includes African American performers, with appearances on “227,” “What’s Happening Now!!,” “Amen,” in addition to “Living Single.” He had a significant position on the 1995-1998 sitcom “The Wayans Bros.,” portraying the principle characters’ father.

On film screens, Witherspoon’s different movie credit embody classics like “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka,” “The Five Heartbeats,” “The Meteor Man,” and “Vampire in Brooklyn,” and he most notably appeared as Willie Jones in all three “Friday Films.”

On Twitter, his pals and friends paid tribute.

“This day began with such joy. And it’s ending with this heart wrenching news of John Witherspoon’s passing. One of our comic brother,” Arsenio Hall stated.

“Pure humorous. Hilarious and at all times variety. John Witherspoon will likely be missed,” Judd Apatow wrote.

“John Witherspoon had all of the quotables. RIP to an actual one,” director Matthew Cherry stated.

Witherspoon is survived by his spouse, Angela, his two sons and his prolonged household. “We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together,” the household stated in a separate assertion first printed by Deadline. “John used to say ‘I’m no big deal’, but he was huge deal to us.”