Veteran comedy actor John Witherspoon has passed away at age of 77.
The Detroit born actor was best known for his roles in the Friday series,The Boondocks and The Wayans Brothers. The Detroit-born actor has also appeared inHouse Party,I’m Gonna Get You Sucka, andThe Richard Pryor Show.
Witherspoon's family gave a statement toDeadline,saying; "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.”
DJ Pooh, who co-wrote the first twoFridaymovies, broke the news when he tweeted around midnight ET “RIP John Witherspoon." About an hour later, Regina King, who co-starred with Witherspoon onThe Boondocks, tweeted her condolences. “My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration! I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King.”
BIG AL SAYS: I absolutely LOVED when Pops came to the studio to talk about his show business career, his O.G. status with other comedians, his love for young people and life lessons he learned along the way. Weird, I am normally sad when someone passes, but knowing that he passed, I have a smile on his face, safe in imagining Pops making God and Jesus spit up their drinks in laughter. Thank you King!