Ron Lester

Ron Lester (August 4, 1970 – June 17, 2016)[1] was an American actor.[2] He was best known for his roles in the films Varsity Blues, Not Another Teen Movie, Good Burger, and the television series Popular.[3]

For the American basketball player and executive, see Ronnie Lester.
Ron Lester
Lester in 2003
Born(1970-08-04)August 4, 1970
Kennesaw, Georgia, U.S.
DiedJune 17, 2016(2016-06-17) (aged 45)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1997–2016

Early life

Lester was born in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Career

Lester's first acting role came when he went to Atlanta, Georgia, to appear as an extra in a commercial, which turned into a feature part. He appeared in a music video for the band Little Texas.

Lester moved to Los Angeles and began doing stand-up comedy in comedy clubs. His first film role was in the movie Good Burger in 1997. In 1999 Lester played the role of Billy Bob in the film Varsity Blues, which would become the role he is most known for. That year he also had recurring roles on two TV drama comedies, Freaks and Geeks and Popular. He also appeared in Not Another Teen Movie, which parodied his role in Varsity Blues.

Personal life

Obese since childhood, at his heaviest Lester weighed 508 pounds (230 kg). In 2000, Lester underwent a gastric bypass surgery procedure called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with a duodenal switch, losing 310 pounds (140 kg).[3] During the procedure Lester flatlined. After the gastric bypass, he had 18 plastic surgeries to remove excess skin.[3]

In November 2015, Lester was hospitalized due to issues with his liver and kidneys. In June 2016, he was reported to be in critical condition and in hospice care.[4] At 9:00 PM on June 17, 2016, Lester died of liver and kidney failure shortly after his family requested that he be taken off life support. He was 45 years old.[1]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1997 Good Burger Spatch Film debut
1999 Varsity Blues Billy Bob, #69
1999 Dill Scallion Earl Langston
2001 Not Another Teen Movie Reggie Ray Spoof of his role as Billy Bob in Varsity Blues
2002 The Greenskeeper Styles
2010 The Fat Boy Chronicles Dr. Jeffords Also co-Executive Producer
2015 Racing Legacy Roger Hardwick Also Writer, Director and Executive Producer

Short films
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Drum Solo
2013 I Think My Mom's Trying to Kill Me Son Also Associate Producer

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Cousin Skeeter Kung Fu Dermatologist Episode: "Kung Fu Dermatologist"
1999–2000 Freaks and Geeks Seidleman Episodes: "Pilot", "Looks and Books", and "Noshing and Moshing"
1999–2001 Popular Michael 'Sugar Daddy' Bernardino 43 episodes
2001 Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series) Wally Episodes: "Really Big Season Opener" (uncredited) and "Humble Pie"
2005 The Karate Dog Edward Cage TV movie
2005 CSI: NY Officer Murphy Episode: "Dancing with the Fishes"

References
  1. Robinson, Will (17 June 2016). "Ron Lester, 'Varsity Blues' star, dies at 45". Entertainment Weekly.
  2. "Ron Lester, Actor Known for 'Varsity Blues,' Dies at 45". The New York Times. Reuters. 19 June 2016.
  3. Golianopoulos, Thomas (3 April 2014). "Billy Bob's Blues". Grantland.
  4. Robinson, Will (17 June 2016). "'Varsity Blues' actor Ron Lester in hospice care". Entertainment Weekly.
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