HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - Actor John Witherspoon, who appeared in the “Friday” film trilogy and The WB comedy “The Wayans Bros.” has died at the age of 77, his family announced on Tuesday.
“It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband & father John Witherspoon has passed away,” according to a tweet posted on his Twitter account. “He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you *POPS* always & forever.”
Witherspoon portrayed the father of the character played by Ice Cube in “Friday” and its sequels “Next Friday” and “Friday After Next.”
Witherspoon's other film credits included “Boomerang,” “Little Nicky,” “House Party, “Vampire in Brooklyn” and “I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.”
Witherspoon made his first television appearance in 1977 on the short- lived NBC variety series “The Richard Pryor Show.” He also appeared in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “The Tracy Morgan Show.”
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