Witherspoon is best known for his role as Mr. Jones in the Friday series and playing Grandad on The Boondocks and Pops on The Wayans Bros, is reported to have died unexpectedly in his home in LA.
The Witherspoon family released a statement to Deadline:
“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. He is survived by his wife Angela, and his sons JD, Alexander, and a large family. We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together. John used to say ‘I’m no big deal’, but he was huge deal to us.”
Born on January 27, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan his career began as a stand-up comedian and actor in the 1970s on iconic The Richard Pryor Show. Making an impression with early film roles in Robert Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle, the Wayans’ I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, House Party, and The Five Heartbeats the actor went on to success
Recently, he appeared on the latest season of Netflix’s BoJack Horseman and Adult Swim’s Black Jesus. He was to appear in the final Friday movie, Last Friday, which was in pre-production. The world has lost a legend but he lives on through his work.
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