Beloved comedian John Witherspoon passed away early Wednesday morning in his home. He was 77.
“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,” Witherspoon’s family said in a statement to Deadline. “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.”
Witherspoon, born in Detroit in 1942, was best known for his roles in The Wayans Brothers and ‘Friday’ film series. He also voiced Granddad in “The Boondocks.”