Bubba Smith passed away at his home today (Aug 3) at the age of 66. According to the
L.A Times, his caretaker discovered the body inside his Baldwin Hills home and called police.
An autopsy will be performed but his death is believed to be from natural causes and police don’t suspect foul play.
After retiring from professional football in 1976, Smith began a career in TV. He was a pitchman for Miller Lite in a series of noted commercials,stared in films and also and then had a recurring role on CBS sitcom “Good Times.”
He was a series regular on three brief ABC series: 1980’s “Semi-Tough,” an adaptation of the film; sitcom “Open All Night” in 1981-82; and an adaptation of action film “Blue Thunder” in 1984. On NBC, he starred with D*** Butkus in the brief comedy “Half Nelson” in 1985.
During the 1980s, the “Police Academy” films, in which he portrayed the strong but soft-spoken Moses Hightower, provided Smith with steadier employment.
Smith continued guesting on TV series during the 1990s and appeared in a few film roles during the 2000s.
Born in Beaumont, Texas, Charles Aaron Smith was a three-time NCAA All-American at Michigan State (he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988), and he was selected by the Baltimore Colts as the No. 1 pick in the NFL’s 1967 college draft. He also played professionally for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers.
