John Witherspoon (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Witherspoon
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Witherspoon in 2019
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| Born |
John Weatherspoon
January 27, 1942 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | October 29, 2019 (aged 77) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Pops |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1963–2019 |
| Spouse(s) |
Angela Robinson
(m. 1988) |
| Children | 2 |
John Witherspoon (born January 27, 1942 – died October 29, 2019) was a famous American actor and comedian. He was known for his funny roles in many TV shows and movies.
People especially remember him as Willie Jones in the Friday movies. He also starred in films like Boomerang and Vampire in Brooklyn. On TV, he appeared in popular shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wayans Bros., and The Boondocks.
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About John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon was born John Weatherspoon on January 27, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan. He was one of 11 children in his family. Later, he changed his last name to Witherspoon.
His older brother, William, became a songwriter for Motown. He helped write the famous song "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted". John also loved music and learned to play the trumpet and French horn.
His Acting Journey
John Witherspoon started his career as a model. In the 1960s and 1970s, he found his passion for comedy. He began performing stand-up comedy, which is when a comedian tells jokes to a live audience.
He made many friends in the comedy world. These friends included famous comedians like Robin Williams, Jay Leno, and David Letterman.
Movies and TV Shows
John Witherspoon acted in many movies, often comedies. He was well-known for his role as Willie Jones in the Friday film series. This included Next Friday and Friday After Next.
He also played funny characters in other films. In House Party, he was a grumpy neighbor. In Boomerang, he played Mr. Jackson, the father of Eddie Murphy's best friend.
His first TV appearance was on Barnaby Jones in the 1970s. He then appeared on shows like Good Times and The Incredible Hulk. In 1977, he became a regular on The Richard Pryor Show.
One of his biggest TV roles was as John "Pops" Williams on The Wayans Bros. from 1995 to 1999. He played the father of Shawn and Marlon Williams. He also lent his voice to the animated series The Boondocks as Robert "Granddad" Freeman. Later, he starred in another show by the same creator, Black Jesus.
Music and Comedy Tours
John Witherspoon also appeared in several music videos. He was in videos for artists like Jay-Z ("I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)") and LL Cool J. In 2008, he even released his own comedy album called "63 Cent".
He loved going back to his stand-up comedy roots. He started a comedy tour that was shown on Showtime in 2008. He continued performing his stand-up act across the country.
His Family and Later Life
John Witherspoon married Angela Robinson in 1988. They had two sons, John David (J.D.) and Alexander. His close friend, David Letterman, became the godfather to his sons.
John Witherspoon passed away on October 29, 2019, at his home in Sherman Oaks, California. He was 77 years old. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California.
Images for kids
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Witherspoon in 2019
