Image Credit: Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection
Bubba Smith, the former NFL standout who starred as Moses Hightower in the Police Academy franchise, was found dead Wednesday in his Los Angeles home at the age of 66, reports the Los Angeles Times. While a cause of death has yet to be determined, it is believed that he died of natural causes. A two-time All-American at Michigan State University who later was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, Smith spent nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive end and tackle, playing in two Pro Bowls and winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts. In the late 1970s, he transitioned into Hollywood, guest-starring in such TV series as Good Times, Charlie’s Angels, and Taxi before scoring as the imposing florist-turned-cop in the 1984 big-screen comedy Police Academy and its many sequels. Smith, who also starred in ABC’s short-lived police drama Blue Thunder in 1984, popped up in the early ’90s on shows like Married…with Children, MacGyver, and Family Matters.
Beep bop boop, ruff ruff
He wasn’t the guy who made noises
RIP Hightower. May Eugene Tackleberry be there in the afterlife for you with open arms.
Nicely said.
I’ll drop you like 3rd period French. Loved him in that episode of Married…with Children – and in Police Academy of course.
Thanks for mentioning that. By far one of my favorite Married with Children episodes. I believe it was over a High School football trophie. Friggin funny…:)
Back when TV was good.
“back when tv was good”. Married With Children? Are you fluckin serious? Even as a 13 year old I recognized that it represented a new low in western civilization. Flush toilet now. Cue fake studio audience. Make way for Springer.
may Bubba rip
That was the point of the show. You weren’t supposed to take it seriously.
That’s true…Television is so much better now, with crap like American Idol, Dancing with the networks dimwits, Jersey Shore, etc…etc….etc. Doesn’t much matter, thought. Shows just interrupt the constant commercials, anyway.
amen Meier
Al: His teammates used to call him ‘Spare Tire’.
Bud: Why, because he was fat?
Al: No, because he used to wear a spare tire around his neck.
RIP, Big Man.
Missing you already, man! Who else could go from star athlete to bringing the funny in such an inimitable way? Police Academy just wouldn’t have been the same without you. RIP, Mr. Jones.
Jones?? SMITH!
A little light just went out in my heart
I hate this. It seems all my 80′s icons are dying off. RIP Bubba.
Tackleberry is already dead? Now I am beyond bummed. Love Hightower. Favorite scene is when he was dressed as the rastafrian, “hummah nummah NUM-ah.
Yeah, the actor who played Tackleberry died of a heart attack at the age of 50.
This just breaks my heart. RIP Bubba. You were the best in the NFL and in the Police Academy.
R.I.P. buddy…
Met him once in college at the notorious Cedar Village Apartment complex. He’d just “suggested” that a kid who dropped a beer bottle behind his car sweep the parking lot from end to end. As we watched the kid at work he asked me for a light. I was honored to oblige.
Bubba gone to the upper room …u will b missed ! Much love bubba !
Who dies from “natural causes” at age 66?
Uh, it’s not that uncommon, I’m sure. 66 isn’t extremely old, but it’s not really that young, either. It would be different if he was half that age and died of natural causes. I have no problem believing that he could have died from that.
He was also a very large man and that does put a strain on the body.
Natural causes means that the cause was natural whether it be illness or heart attack. It doesn’t mean that he died of old age. That’s as opposed to unnatural causes such as murder or accident.