John Witherspoon (actor)

John Weatherspoon[1] (January 27, 1942 – October 29, 2019), better known as John Witherspoon, was an American actor and comedian who performed in various television shows and films.[2]

John Witherspoon
Witherspoon in 2019
Born
John Weatherspoon

(1942-01-27)January 27, 1942
DiedOctober 29, 2019(2019-10-29) (aged 77)
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park
Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.
Other namesPops
OccupationActor, comedian
Years active1977–2019
Spouse(s)
Angela Robinson
(m. 1988)
Children2

He is best remembered for his role as Willie Jones for the Friday series;[2] Witherspoon also starred in films such as Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Boomerang (1992), The Five Heartbeats (1991), and Vampire in Brooklyn (1995).[2] He has also made appearances on television shows such as The Fresh Prince (1994), The Wayans Bros. (1995–99), The Tracy Morgan Show (2003), Barnaby Jones (1973), The Boondocks (2005–2014), and Black Jesus (2014–2019).[2][3] He wrote a film, From the Old School, in which he played an elderly working man who tries to prevent a neighborhood convenience store from being developed into a strip club.

Early life

Witherspoon was born on January 27, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan.[4][5] He later changed his last name from Weatherspoon to Witherspoon.[6] Witherspoon was one of 11 siblings.[7] His elder brother, William, became a songwriter for Motown, with whom he penned the lyrics of the 1966 hit single "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted".[7] Another sibling, Cato, was a director of the PBS-TV Network/CH56 in Detroit.[8] Their sister, Gertrude Stacks, is a pastor in Shalom Fellowship International church in Detroit.[8]

Witherspoon had a passion for music and learned to play the trumpet and French horn.

Career

Witherspoon worked occasionally as a model. During the 1960s and 1970s, he began to take a liking towards comedy. During that time, he began his stand-up comedy career. As a result, he had many friends in the business, including Tim Reid (while he was working on WKRP in Cincinnati and The Richard Pryor Show), Robin Williams (also on The Richard Pryor Show), Jay Leno, and David Letterman.[3]

Witherspoon performed in many feature films (usually comedies), including Friday (and its sequels Next Friday and Friday After Next) as well as Hollywood Shuffle, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Bird, Vampire in Brooklyn, and The Meteor Man.[4][9][3]

Witherspoon was also known for his over-the-top characters in films such as House Party, in which he played an irritated neighbor who is repeatedly woken up by the party,[3] and Boomerang with Eddie Murphy, where he plays Mr. Jackson, the ill-mannered father of Murphy's best friend.[9]

Television

His first television appearance was on the 1970s CBS television show Barnaby Jones,[10] playing a camp counselor for drug addicted youth. Subsequent appearances were on Good Times,[11] What's Happening!! and The Incredible Hulk.[12] In 1977, he became a regular on the series The Richard Pryor Show, an NBC American comedy series.[3] This then led to his appearance in WKRP In Cincinnati in 1982 in the fourth-season episode "Circumstantial Evidence" in which Witherspoon played Detective Davies.[13]

In 1981, he appeared in Hill Street Blues, an NBC police drama, as a man who tries to buy a hotdog from undercover Detective Belker.[14] In 1981, he had an appearance on L.A. Law, an NBC legal drama, in the episode "On Your Honor" as Mark Steadman. He appeared in other television series including You Again? as Osborne, 227, which was an NBC comedy about women who lived in a majority black apartment complex, and What's Happening Now!!, the sequel to What's Happening!!.

A year later Witherspoon was in Amen (1988), an American television sitcom that ran on NBC, as the bailiff. The show was known for being one of the shows during the 1980s that featured an almost entirely black cast.

Next came spots on Townsend Television (1993), Cosmic Slop (1994), and Murder Was The Case (1994) as a drunk.

He appeared in Fox's Living Single (1997) episode "Three Men and a Buckeye" as Smoke Eye Howard. His largest role in a television series was in The Wayans Bros. (1995–1999) which aired on The WB and starred Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans, who played brothers Shawn and Marlon Williams.[9] Witherspoon played their father, John "Pops" Williams.

Witherspoon was on the Kids' WB animation series Waynehead, which was about a young boy growing up poor in the Harlem, New York City. The show was aired on Saturday mornings and was based on creator Damon Wayans' life.

In 2003, Witherspoon made a showing on NBC's Last Comic Standing, a reality television show that selected the comedian out of a group and gave him a contract, in the Las Vegas finals. Also in 2003, he performed in The Proud Family, an animated series that aired on Disney Channel, as Oran Jones in the episode "Adventures in Bebe Sitting." He also performed in an episode of another Disney Channel's animated series, Kim Possible.

He starred in the comedy series The Tracy Morgan Show as Spoon in all 18 episodes of the show.[3]

In 2004, he was in Pryor Offenses, a television movie where he played Willie the Wino. In 2005, he was seen in the Comedy Central talk show Weekends at the D.L. where he played the character of Michael Johnson. In the same year, he began starring in Aaron McGruder's animated series The Boondocks as Robert Jebediah "Granddad" Freeman; this Cartoon Network series ran for four seasons.[9][3] In 2006, he performed in a television movie, Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street, a story about a group of kids who find the true meaning of Christmas. In the movie he plays Real Santa, a Christmas singer on the radio. His next appearance was on The Super Rumble Mixshow in 2008. He also appeared in another Aaron McGruder series, Black Jesus, portraying Lloyd, a homeless man.[3]

In 2011, he starred in a Final Destination spoof with Shane Dawson on YouTube. In May 2013, he featured on "Saturday (skit)", from rapper Logic on his latest mixtape Young Sinatra: Welcome to Forever.

Music videos

Witherspoon appeared in a number of music videos in the music industry. He was in the music video for hip-hop superstar Jay-Z's 2000 single "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)". He was also in Field Mob's music video for their song "Sick of Being Lonely". Other music movies include Goodie Mob's "They Don't Dance No Mo'" and LL Cool J's "Ain't Nobody". In 2008, Witherspoon released a hip-hop comedy album titled "63 Cent".[15]

Comedy tour

Witherspoon went back to his comedian roots and started a comedy tour that premiered on television on March 28, 2008, on Showtime Network. On his 2009 tour, he had 19 stops across the country. In December 2011, Witherspoon performed his stand up comedy act once again on stage at the Funny Bone comedy club at Harrah's Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.

Personal life and death

Witherspoon married Angela Robinson in 1988.[16] They have two sons, John David ("J.D.") and Alexander.[6] J.D. is known for making skits and gameplay videos on YouTube, and hosted the mobile game show Confetti on Facebook Watch. David Letterman was Witherspoon's best friend and is the godfather to his two sons.[17]

Witherspoon died of a heart attack at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on October 29, 2019.[18] He was 77 years old.[19] His funeral was held on November 5, 2019, and he was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California.[20]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Jazz Singer M.C. Cinderella Club [4]
1986 Ratboy Heavy [4]
1987 Hollywood Shuffle Mr. Jones [4]
1988 Bird Sid [4]
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Reverend [4]
1990 House Party Mr. Strickland [3][4]
1991 The Five Heartbeats Wild Rudy [4]
Talkin Dirty After Dark Dukie [4]
Killer Tomatoes Strike Back Evan Rood
1992 Boomerang Mr. Jackson [21]
Bébé's Kids Card Player #1 Voice
1993 The Meteor Man Clarence James Carter III [3][4]
Fatal Instinct Arch [4]
1994 Murder Was the Case Drunk #1 [22]
1995 Friday Willie Jones [21]
Vampire in Brooklyn Silas Green [21]
1997 Sprung Detective [4]
Fakin' da Funk Bill [4]
1998 Ride Roscoe [4]
Bulworth Reverend Morris [3]
I Got the Hook-Up Mr. Mimm [4]
High Freakquency Wes Thomas [23]
2000 Next Friday Willie Jones [21]
The Ladies Man Scrap Iron [4]
Little Nicky Street Vendor [4]
2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Zoo Bear #2 Voice[3]
2002 Friday After Next Willie Jones [21]
2004 Soul Plane Blind Man [4]
2006 Little Man Pops [24]
God's Gift Store
2007 After Sex Gene
2008 The Super Rumble Mixshow [25][26]
The Hustle Mr. Wikes
You Got to Coordinate Himself Stand-up
2009 Hopelessly in June Mr. Myers
2011 Chick Magnet John
2012 A Thousand Words Blind Old Man [27]
2019 I Got the Hook Up 2 Mr. Mimm
2020 Reality Queen Joe The Plumber Posthumous release; Final film role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977The Richard Pryor ShowVarious2 episodes[3]
1978The Incredible HulkTomEpisode: "Final Round"[12][3]
What's Happening!!D.J.Episode: "Disco Dollar Disaster"
1979Good TimesOfficer LawsonEpisode: "A Matter of Mothers"[11][3]
Barnaby JonesFrank WalesEpisode: "School of Terror"[21]
1982WKRP in CincinnatiDetective DaviesEpisode: "Circumstantial Evidence"[13]
Hill Street BluesBusinessmanEpisode: "The Young, The Beautiful and the Degraded"[4]
1986You Again?OsborneEpisode: "Good Neighbors"
1987227Man #2Episode: "Low Noon"
What's Happening Now!!AdamEpisode: "Family Life"
Frank's PlaceRay ParrishEpisode: "Season's Greetings"
1988AmenThe Balliff2 episodes[4]
1990L.A. LawMark SteadmanEpisode: "On Your Honor"[4]
1993Townsend TelevisionVarious10 episodes
MartinUncle JuniorEpisode: "Thanks for Nothing"
1994The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirAugustus AdamsEpisode: "The Harder They Fall"[4]
1995–1999The Wayans Bros.John "Pops" WilliamsMain cast
101 episodes[21][9]
1996–1997WayneheadDadVoice, 3 episodes
1997Living SingleSmoke Eye HowardEpisode: "Three Men and a Buckeye"[4]
2000Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildScofflawVoice, Episode: "The Prince and the Pauper"
2003–2004The Proud FamilyOran JonesVoice, 3 episodes
The Tracy Morgan ShowSpoonMain cast
18 episodes[21][3]
2004Kim PossibleWayneVoice, Episode: "Rewriting History"
Pryor OffensesWillie The WinoTV movie
2005Weekends at the D.L.Michael JohnsonEpisode: "1.14"
2005–2014The BoondocksRobert "Granddad" Freeman / Blind ManVoice, Main cast
55 episodes[9]
2006Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-Roc's StreetReal Santa / Christmas Singer on RadioVoice, TV movie
2008The Super Rumble Mixshow
2011Tosh.0Fart Section Bus PassengerEpisode: "Fart Bus Kid"
2012–2015The First FamilyGrandpa AlvinRecurring role
28 episodes[3]
2013Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade NinjaS. Ward SmithVoice, Episode: "Sword Quest"
2014Anger ManagementWillEpisode: "Charlie Tests His Power"
2014–2019Black JesusLloyd31 episodes[3]
2014Black DynamiteVoice, Episode: "The Warriors Come Out or The Mean Queens of Halloween"
2016Black-ishJames Brown2 episodes
Animals.JimmyVoice, Episode: "Squirrels Part I"
2017White FamousLimo DriverEpisode: "Pilot"
2019The JelliesVoice, Episode: "Doctor Pirates!"
2019BoJack HorsemanFranco AplentyVoice, Episode: "Surprise!”

Albums

Comedy albums

References

Notes

  1. "Death Certificate" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  2. "John Witherspoon". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  3. "John Witherspoon Dies: Tributes Pour In for 'Friday' and 'Tracy Morgan Show' Actor". Billboard. October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  4. Berry, S. Torriano; Berry, Venise T. (2015). Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 480. ISBN 978-1-4422-4702-4.
  5. "'Friday' Actor-Comedian John Witherspoon Dies at 77". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  6. India, Press Trust of (October 30, 2019). "Actor-comic John Witherspoon dead at 77". Business Standard India. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  7. Twigger, Will (October 30, 2019). "John Witherspoon, legendary actor and comedian, dies aged 77". mirror. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  8. Hinds, Julie. "5 essentials about the late, great John Witherspoon, comedy icon from Detroit". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  9. "'Friday' actor and comedian John Witherspoon dies at 77". Los Angeles Times. October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  10. Maxouris, Christina; Sutton, Joe (October 30, 2019). "Actor, comedian John Witherspoon has died at 77". KOAM. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  11. "Good Times: Season 6, Episode 16 A Matter of Mothers". TV Guide. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  12. "The Incredible Hulk: Season 1, Episode 1 Final Round". TV Guide. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  13. Kassel, Michael B.; Browne, Ray B. (1993). America's Favorite Radio Station: WKRP in Cincinnati. Popular Press. p. 192. ISBN 9780879725846.
  14. "Guest Appearances". www.hillstreetblues.net. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  15. "63 Cent by John Witherspoon".
  16. "Actor and Comedian John Witherspoon Dead at 77: 'He Was a Legend in the Entertainment Industry'". PEOPLE.com. October 30, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  17. "John Witherspoon on Letterman, 1987, 1988, and 1991". Retrieved January 12, 2020 via www.youtube.com.
  18. Haas, Mariah (November 12, 2019). "John Witherspoon's cause of death revealed". Fox News. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  19. "John Witherspoon Dies: Comedian & 'Friday' Star Was 77". October 30, 2019. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  20. "John Witherspoon's Celebration of Life Draws Hollywood Giants".
  21. CNN, Christina Maxouris and Joe Sutton. "John Witherspoon, comedian and actor who starred in 'Friday,' has died at 77". CNN. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  22. "John Witherspoon's Funniest Hip-Hop Music Video Cameos". Vibe. October 30, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  23. "John Witherspoon: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday | eTimes". The Times of India. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  24. "John Witherspoon, 'Friday' Actor and Comedian, Dies at 77". Variety. October 30, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  25. ""Boondocks" creator taking aim with Web series". Reuters. December 19, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  26. Wallenstein, Andrew (December 19, 2007). "McGruder moves beyond 'Boondocks'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  27. Christian, Margena A. (October 31, 2019). "How the Best Scene in 'Boomerang' Almost Didn't Happen". Ebony. Retrieved November 2, 2019.

Further reading

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