Update: Per the dispatch audio from the actor's death, obtained and published by TMZ on Friday (November 1), Witherspoon was reportedly unconscious and "under cardiac arrest" when rescue officials arrived and administered CPR. The dispatcher later declares he died shortly after.
John Witherspoon, the actor of Friday and Wayans Bros. fame, has passed away. He was 77.
Witherspoon’s family confirmed the unfortunate news late Tuesday night (October 29) in a statement to Deadline which reads as follows:
"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."
The comedian was lauded and beloved for his funny fatherly portrayals in multiple films and TV shows including as crabby dad Willie Jones in the Friday films and "Pops" on The Wayans Bros. sitcom, and grumpy granddad Robert Jebediah Freeman, whom he voiced in the animated series The Boondocks. The comedian has also had acting credits in other big and small screen projects like Vampire In Brooklyn, Little Man, Soul Plane, I'm Gonna Get You Sucka, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, I Got the Hook-Up, Living Single, Black-ish, and many others.
Fans and celebrities alike took to social media with heartfelt memorials to the Detroit-born funnyman who, in so many ways, was a father figure to those who grew up watching his work.
See how everyone is grieving Witherspoon's death down below.
Photo: Getty Images