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Bill Cobbs

Actor | * 06/16/1934 (89) | Cleveland, Ohio (United States of America (USA))
William Francisco Cobbs (born June 16, 1934) is an American actor. He is known for such film roles as Louisiana Slim in The Hitter (1979), Walter in The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Reginald in Night at the Museum (2006) and Master Tinker on Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). He played Lewis Coleman on I'll Fly Away (1991–1993), Jack on The Michael Richards Show (2000), and had guest appearances on Walker, Texas Ranger and The Sopranos. In 2020, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program for the series Dino Dana. ()
Photo of Bill Cobbs

Bill Cobbs was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where his parents were hard-working people, who instilled in him a sense of self-reliance and humility. As an amateur actor in the city's Karamu House Theater, he starred in the Ossie Davis play "Purlie Victorious". Cobbs was an Air Force radar technician for eight years; he also worked in office products at IBM and sold cars in Cleveland. In 1970, at the age of 36, he left for New York to seek work as an actor. There he turned down a job in the NBC sales department in order to have time for auditions. He supported himself by driving a cab, repairing office equipment, selling toys, and performing odd jobs. His first professional acting role was in "Ride a Black Horse" at the Negro Ensemble Company. From there, he appeared in small theater productions, street theater, regional theater and at the Eugene O'Neill Theater. His first television credit was in Vegetable Soup (1975), a New York public television Educational series, and he made his feature film debut in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). In his free time, Cobbs enjoys music, reading, and playing his drums. He lives in New York City and Los Angeles, California and continues acting.

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Comedies | Kids & Family

Known for these Movies & Shows

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Movies with Bill Cobbs as Actor(90)

as himself2023 Segal
as Dr. Mason2022 Caroltyn
as Uncle Jim2022 Block Party
as John Thompson2021 Saving Paradise
as Swilley2019 Beyond the Law
as Malachi2017 Call Me King
as Mr. Charles2016 New Life
as Ted Hamilton2015 The Ultimate Legacy
as Mr Randolph2015 The Great Gilly Hopkins
as Stompleg2014 Of Mind and Music
as Mr. Dupac2014 On Angel's Wings
as Ted Hamilton2013 The Ultimate Life
as Pastor2013 The Last Letter
as Master Tinker2013 Oz the Great and Powerful
as Thomas2012 Lukewarm
as Dr. Ezekiel Cannon2012 The Undershepherd
as Charles2011 The Arcadian
as Grandfather2011 The Muppets
as Jack Rymer2011 The Tenant
as Mr. Stewart2010 The Search for Santa Paws
as Rev. Charlie Jackson2009 Get Low
as Frank Vermillion2009 Black Water Transit
as Myer Truman2008 This Man's Life
as George2008 The Morgue
as Ted Hamilton2007 The Ultimate Gift
as Marvin Jeffries2007 Three Days To Vegas
as Cobb2006 Hard Luck
as Reginald2006 Night at the Museum
as Lou2006 Special Ed
as Houston Jones2005 The Derby Stallion
as Dr. Daniel Green2005 The Final Patient
as Norman2005 Duck
as Blues Musician2003 A Mighty Wind
as Dr. Elton Lloyd2002 Sunshine State
as Jim Toller2002 Enough
as Uncle Charles (voice)2001 A Rugrats Kwanzaa
as Proprietor / Conductor2000 For All Time
as Marvin1999 Random Hearts
as Nurse1998 Hope Floats
as Virgil the Janitor1998 Paulie
as Right Burke1998 Always Outnumbered
as Arthur Chaney1997 Air Bud
as Del Paxton1996 That Thing You Do!
as Speet1996 First Kid
as Tipton1996 Ed
as Old man1996 Nightjohn
as Charlie Evers1996 Ghosts of Mississippi
as Vernon1995 Captiva Island
as Sippy1995 Divas
as Bert1995 Fluke
as Pullman Porter1995 Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long
as Lyman Weeks1995 Out There
as Henry Griggs1995 Man with a Gun
as Moses1994 The Hudsucker Proxy
as Lewis Coleman1993 I'll Fly Away: Then and Now
as Zachary Lamb - Aged1993 Demolition Man
as Man in Park1993 Fatal Instinct
as Bill Devaney1992 The Bodyguard
as Abraham White1992 Exiled in America
as Old Man1991 New Jack City
as Grandpa Booker1991 The People Under the Stairs
as Raggedy Man1991 The Hard Way
as Elijah Crooks1991 Carolina Skeletons
as Gee Pennywell1990 Decoration Day
as Detective Reilly1989 The January Man
as Dr. Caulfield1988 Bird
as Jesse Johnson1988 Dominick and Eugene
as Judge Franklin1987 Suspect
as Elderly Man in Bar1987 Five Corners
as Orvis1986 The Color of Money
as Big Joe Ison1984 The Cotton Club
as Man in Lunchroom1983 Silkwood
as Bartender1983 Trading Places
as T.T. Williams1982 The Member of the Wedding
as Louisiana Slim1979 The Hitter
as Mr Jones1977 Greased Lightning
as Man on Platform1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

TV Shows/Series with Bill Cobbs as Actor(44)

as Henry McCready2016 Greenleaf
as John McCready2016 Greenleaf
as Vernon2015 The Carmichael Show
as Gregory Richmond2010 The Glades
as Gus2003 One Tree Hill
as Mr. Jones2001 Six Feet Under
as Dr. Emory Erickson2001 Star Trek: Enterprise
as Elmer Greentree2000 The Others
as Mr. Bradford2000 Soul Food
as Counterman2000 Yes, Dear
as Harry Bastille2000 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
as Alan Tatum1999 The West Wing
as Reverend James Sr.1999 The Sopranos
as Chief (voice)1998 The Wild Thornberrys
as Second Elder - Prisoner No. 917771995 The Outer Limits
as Fred Watson1995 The Wayans Bros.
as Chaplain Matthew Turner1995 JAG
as Mr. Bowman1994 ER
as Henry Baldwin1994 Touched by an Angel
as Gino Costa1993 Walker, Texas Ranger
1989 Coach
as Webb Johnson1986 L.A. Law
as Barry1985 The Equalizer
as Abraham Wilson1983 Rage of Angels
as Gee Pennywell1951 Hallmark Hall of Fame

Full Name: Bill Cobbs
Born: Saturday, 06/16 1934 (June) in Cleveland, Ohio (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 89 years + 287 days)
Zodiac sign: Gemini (Chinese zodiac sign: Dog)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: Karamu House
Other names for Bill Cobbs (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Билл Коббс"
"William Cobbs"
Bill Cobbs frequently works together with these people:
Clyde Kusatsu (13x, Actor)
Thomas Kopache (12x, Actor)
Gregory Itzin (11x, Actor)
Maurice Evans (11x, Actor)
Steven Culp (10x, Actor)
Julie Harris (10x, Actress)
David Chase (10x, Crew)
Glenn Morshower (9x, Actor)
Vernee Watson-Johnson (9x, Actress)
Keith Szarabajka (9x, Actor)
Cristine Rose (9x, Actress)
John Sayles (7x, Crew)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:5911, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 03/12/2024