Bill Cobbs Dies: 'Air Bud' and 'The Bodyguard' Actor Was 90

Bill Cobbs, a seasoned actor who appeared in Oz: The Great and Powerful, The Bodyguard, and dozens of other episodes, has died. He was ninety.
Cobbs died on June 25 surrounded by family at his home in Southern California's Inland Empire, according to his publicist Chuck I. Jones, who verified this to Urban Hollywood 411.

The actor suffered from a variety of age-related diseases, but he always looked forward to working and was cast in a number of prospective productions, according to Jones.
#I had just spoken with him three weeks ago and he was in great spirits," Jones informed me.

On June 16, 1934, William Francisco Cobbs was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He spent eight years in the United States Air Force and later sold cars before relocating to New York to seek a career as an actor. He performed on stage before making his feature film debut in the 1974 crime movie The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

Cobbs is most recognized for his work in The Bodyguard (1992), Air Bud (1997), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). He also appeared in the Night at the Museum movies.

“He was most proud of The Bodyguard. He thoroughly enjoyed working with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner,” Jones told Urban Hollywood 411 about his client. “When Whitney passed away, he attended her funeral.”

Cobbs recalled fondly his role as "Master Tinker" in Oz the Great and Powerful.

The actor was recently cast in the next Oz the Great and Powerful sequel, which is now in production.

Cobbs' five-decade Hollywood career included appearances on the TV shows Good Times, One Life to Live, The Slap Maxwell Story, I'll Fly Away, The Gregory Hines Show, Sesame Street, and, most recently, Greenleaf and The Carmichael Show, according to his IMDb biography.

In 2020, he received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program for his role in the children's television show Dino Dana.

Cobbs is survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.