Thursday, August 4, 2011

Bubba Smith (1945-2011)

Word came over the wires yesterday of the passing of Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith, who parlayed a successful career in football into an equally lucrative acting career, at 66 from natural causes.

Bubba Smith, a graduate of Michigan State, played pro ball with the Colts, Raiders, & Oilers before retiring in the mid-70's after 9 seasons, and appeared in two Super Bowls with the Colts. Following his NFL career, Smith transitioned into acting, and appeared in the "Police Academy" movie series as Officer Moses Hightower, and on the TV series, Blue Thunder, again playing a cop, this time alongside fellow NFL great Dick Butkus.

Smith was also a regular in a series of Miller Lite beer ads, and largely because of that, had a cameo appearance in Rodney Dangerfield's 1983 music video for "Rappin' Rodney". The gentle giant is seen as a prisoner as Rodney walks the "last mile".

Rest in peace, Bubba.

No comments: