Bill Cobbs, actor in 'Demolition Man,' 'Night at the Museum' and 'Air Bud,' dies at 90

Actor Bill Cobbs, recognized for his roles in films like "Night at the Museum," "Demolition Man," "That Thing You Do!," "The Bodyguard," and "Air Bud," has passed away at the age of 90.

"We are saddened to share the passing of Bill Cobbs," his family said in a statement shared by his rep. "On Tuesday, June 25, Bill passed away peacefully at his home in California. A beloved partner, big brother, uncle, surrogate parent, godfather and friend, Bill recently and happily celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by cherished loved ones."

"As a family, we are comforted knowing Bill has found peace and eternal rest with his Heavenly Father," the statement from his family continued. "We ask for your prayers and encouragement during this time."

Cobbs began his acting career at the age of 36, having previously served in the U.S. Air Force, worked at IBM, and sold cars, as noted in his obituary.

Over the course of a five-decade career, Cobbs earned approximately 200 credits in movies and television shows. He starred in a number of well-known films, such as the 1993 action-thriller "Demolition Man" and the 1996 classic "That Thing You Do!" that was nominated for an Oscar.

 Cobbs had a very active decade in the 1990s. As Devaney, Cobbs starred with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in the 1992 Oscar-nominated thriller "The Bodyguard."

He starred with Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock in the science fiction thriller "Demolition Man" from 1993. Cobbs appeared in the musical comedy "That Thing You Do!" starring Steve Zahn, Liv Tyler, and Tom Hanks in 1996 as a fictional jazz pianist.

In addition, he has other television series credits, such as "The Carmichael Show," "The Michael Richards Show," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", and "The Sopranos."

As a director, Cobbs helmed "The Meeting," a film exploring a fictional encounter between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Cobbs' final acting performances were in the television series "BMF" and "Diarra from Detroit" in 2024.