Another wintry storm Friday

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

, whose first roles were on 1970s TV shows such as “Barnaby Jones” and “The Richard Pryor Show” but who was best known for his role as the crotchety dad in the "Friday” films, has died at 77. 

Witherspoon's family confirmed his death in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"It is with deepest sorrow that we can confirm our beloved husband and father, John Witherspoon, one of the hardest working men in show business, died today at his home in Sherman Oaks at the age of 77," the family said in a 


Witherspoon, who was born John Weatherspoon in Detroit in 1942, started his career as a stand-up comic and continued to play clubs throughout his life. In 1979, he got his first television role, on 

, playing a counselor at a camp for drug-addicted children alongside a young Sean Penn in Penn's first credited role.

 Later, Witherspoon appeared in “Good Times," “What's Happening!!” and “The Incredible Hulk,” among others. He became a regular on The Richard Pryor Show. Years later, he had recurring roles in The Wayans Bros. and The Tracy Morgan Show.


He voiced Robert "Granddad" Freeman in the animated sitcom 

which wrapped in 2014. However, in May, Witherspoon 

said the show and his character were set for a revival.

His feature films included “Hollywood Shuffle,” “Boomerang,” “Vampire in Brooklyn,” “I'm Gonna Git You Sucka,” “Bird,” “The Meteor Man” and all three of the “Friday” comedies starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker — “Friday” (1995), “Next Friday” (2000) and “Friday After Next” (2002).

Ice Cube tweeted that "Life won't be as funny without him."

Witherspoon is survived by his wife, Angela, and two sons, JD and Alexander. The family was  "in shock" over his death and asked for privacy.


"John used to say 'I'm no big deal,' but he was huge deal to us," the family said in a statement.


Arts and Culture

Scott Neuman

Author

He was a veteran of 1970s television comedies such as Good Times and What's Happening!!, but was best known for his role in Ice Cube's Friday films.

Film and television comic John Witherspoon dies at 77

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox