BC
Bill Cobbs
Actor
Born June 16, 1934 (88 years)
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.
Filmography
| 2022 | Caroltyn · as Dr. Mason |
| 2022 | Block Party · as Uncle Jim |
| 2021 | Saving Paradise · as John Thompson |
| 2020 | Dino Dana: The Movie · as Mr. Hendersen |
| 2019 | Beyond the Law · as Swilley |
| 2018 | As Evil Does · as Jeremiah |
| 2017 | Call Me King · as Malachi |
| 2017 | My Christmas Grandpa · as Fred |
| 2017 | Superior Donuts (TV Series) · as 'Wheels' Langdon |
| 2017 | Dino Dana (TV Series) · as Mr. Hendrickson |
| 2016 | The Ultimate Legacy · as Ted Hamilton |
| 2016 | New Life · as Mr. Charles |
| 2016 | Greenleaf (TV Series) · as John McCready |
| 2015 | A House Is Not a Home · as Paul |
| 2015 | The Great Gilly Hopkins · as Mr Randolph |
| 2015 | The Carmichael Show (TV Series) · as Vernon |
| 2014 | Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb · as Reginald |
| 2014 | Of Mind and Music · as Stompleg |
| 2014 | Christmas in Palm Springs · as Gabriel |
| 2014 | On Angel's Wings · as Mr. Dupac |
| 2014 | Rake (US) (TV Series) · as Judge Rutchland |
| 2014 | Hand of God (TV Series) · as Papa Gene |
| 2013 | Oz the Great and Powerful · as Master Tinker |
| 2013 | The Ultimate Life · as Ted Hamilton |
| 2013 | Dear Secret Santa · as Ted |
| 2013 | Back in the Game (TV Series) · as James |
| 2013 | Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (TV Series) · as Old Man |
| 2012 | Lukewarm · as Thomas |
| 2012 | The Undershepherd · as Dr. Ezekiel Cannon |
| 2012 | Go On (TV Series) · as George |
| 2011 | The Muppets · as Grandfather |
| 2011 | The Arcadian · as Charles |
| 2011 | Harry's Law (TV Series) · as Judge |
| 2011 | Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (TV Series) · as Bishop Sanford |
| 2010 | The Tenant · as Jack Rymer |
| 2010 | No Limit Kids: Much Ado About Middle School · as Unknown |
| 2010 | The Bay (TV Series) · as Boyd Bloom |
| 2010 | The Glades (TV Series) · as Gregory Richmond |
| 2010 | The Search for Santa Paws · as Mr. Stewart |
| 2009 | Get Low · as Rev. Charlie Jackson |
| 2009 | Hurricane in the Rose Garden · as Former Club Owner |
| 2008 | The Morgue · as George |
| 2007 | Three Days to Vegas · as Marvin Jeffries |
| 2007 | Side Order of Life (TV Series) · as Eddie Morgan |
| 2007 | October Road (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 2007 | Army Wives (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 2006 | Night at the Museum · as Reginald |
| 2006 | Hard Luck · as Cobb |
| 2006 | The Ultimate Gift · as Ted Hamilton |
| 2005 | The Derby Stallion · as Houston Jones |
| 2005 | |
| 2005 | Squirrel Man · as Morgan Wendell |
| 2004 | Lost · as Jeremy's Boss |
| 2003 | One Tree Hill (TV Series) · as Gus |
| 2003 | A Mighty Wind · as Blues Musician |
| 2002 | Enough · as Jim Toller |
| 2002 | Sunshine State · as Dr. Elton Lloyd |
| 2001 | Philly (TV Series) · as Warren Bell |
| 2001 | Star Trek: Enterprise (TV Series) · as Dr. Emory Erickson |
| 2001 | Six Feet Under (TV Series) · as Mr. Jones |
| 2001 | My Wife and Kids (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 2001 | The Division (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 2000 | For All Time · as Proprietor / Conductor |
| 2000 | The Michael Richards Show (TV Series) · as Jack |
| 2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) · as Harry Bastille |
| 2000 | Yes, Dear (TV Series) · as Counterman |
| 2000 | The Others (TV Series) · as Elmer Greentree |
| 2000 | Soul Food (TV Series) · as Mr. Bradford |
| 1999 | The West Wing (TV Series) · as Alan Tatum |
| 1999 | The Sopranos (TV Series) · as Reverend James Sr. |
| 1999 | Random Hearts · as Marvin |
| 1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer · as Estes |
| 1998 | Hope Floats · as Nurse |
| 1998 | Always Outnumbered · as Right Burke |
| 1998 | Paulie · as Virgil the Janitor |
| 1998 | L. A. Doctors (TV Series) · as Bob |
| 1998 | For Your Love (TV Series) · as Uncle Stanley |
| 1998 | The Wild Thornberrys (TV Series) · as Chief (voice) |
| 1997 | Soulmates · as Mr. Williams |
| 1997 | The Gregory Hines Show (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1997 | The Practice (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1997 | Air Bud · as Arthur Chaney |
| 1996 | That Thing You Do! · as Del Paxton |
| 1996 | First Kid · as Speet |
| 1996 | Mojave Moon · as Diner patron |
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi · as Charlie Evers |
| 1996 | Nightjohn · as Old man |
| 1996 | Thrill · as Norm Duprey |
| 1996 | High Incident (TV Series) · as Emmett |
| 1996 | Ed · as Tipton |
| 1995 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead · as Malt |
| 1995 | Fluke · as Bert |
| 1995 | Man with a Gun · as Henry Griggs |
| 1995 | Captiva Island · as Vernon |
| 1995 | Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long · as Pullman Porter |
| 1995 | Out There · as Lyman Weeks |
| 1995 | Goldilocks and the Three Bears · as Caleb |
| 1995 | The Drew Carey Show (TV Series) · as Tony |
| 1995 | JAG (TV Series) · as Chaplain Matthew Turner |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits (1995) (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1995 | The Wayans Bros. (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1995 | Divas · as Sippy |
| 1994 | The Hudsucker Proxy · as Moses |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Mr. Bowman |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Henry Baldwin |
| 1993 | Demolition Man · as Zachary Lamb - Aged |
| 1993 | Fatal Instinct · as Man in Park |
| 1993 | I'll Fly Away: Then and Now · as Lewis Coleman |
| 1993 | Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1993 | NYPD Blue (TV Series) · as Bernie Carpenter |
| 1992 | The Bodyguard · as Bill Devaney |
| 1992 | Roadside Prophets · as Oscar |
| 1992 | Exiled in America · as Abraham White |
| 1991 | The Hard Way · as Raggedy Man |
| 1991 | The People Under the Stairs · as Grandpa Booker |
| 1991 | Carolina Skeletons · as Elijah Crooks |
| 1991 | I'll Fly Away (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1991 | Rugrats (TV Series) · as Uncle Charles |
| 1991 | New Jack City · as Old Man |
| 1990 | Decoration Day · as Gee Pennywell |
| 1990 | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill (TV Series) · as Fish Fry Baby |
| 1990 | Gabriel's Fire (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1990 | Northern Exposure (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1990 | True Colors (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1989 | The January Man · as Detective Reilly |
| 1989 | Coach (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1988 | Bird · as Dr. Caulfield |
| 1988 | Dominick and Eugene · as Jesse Johnson |
| 1988 | Empty Nest (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1987 | Suspect · as Judge Franklin |
| 1987 | Five Corners · as Elderly Man in Bar |
| 1986 | The Color of Money · as Orvis |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Webb Johnson |
| 1986 | Designing Women (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1985 | Compromising Positions · as Sgt. Williams |
| 1985 | The Equalizer (TV Series) · as Barry |
| 1985 | Spenser: For Hire (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1984 | The Brother from Another Planet · as Walter |
| 1984 | Kate & Allie (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1984 | The Cotton Club · as Big Joe Ison |
| 1983 | Trading Places · as Bartender |
| 1983 | Silkwood · as Man in Lunchroom |
| 1983 | Rage of Angels · as Abraham Wilson |
| 1978 | The Hitter · as Louisiana Slim |
| 1977 | Greased Lightning · as Mr Jones |
| 1977 | A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich · as Bartender |
| 1974 | Good Times (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1974 | The Taking of Pelham One Two Three · as Man on Platform |
| 1969 | Sesame Street (TV Series) · as Lee |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Gee Pennywell |