Just standing there in a truculent posture with a suspicious look, he is funny and enlivens every scene he’s in.” The Detroit-bred comic has proven that he is a Hollywood mainstay and continues to land coveted spots in some of America’s favorite movies and television shows. “Witherspoon is one of those performers who doesn’t need a funny line to be funny. The Orange County Register describes the comedian/actor as being in a class of his own. are arguably some of the most hilarious bits of comedy to date. His roles in the Friday series, (Friday, Next Friday, Friday After Next), Soul Plane, Ladies Man, Boomerang, Vampire in Brooklyn, Little Nicky, House Party, etc. You have to wonder how a comedian whose work can be traced back as far as WKRP in Cincinnati and Barnaby Jones, can still be relevant today. Not only does Witherspoon’s work span over four decades to include blockbuster movies, hit-television shows, commercials, and top-rated music videos, but he’s coined his own catch phrases… as in… “Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!” and “You Gotta Co-ordinate!” You’ve seen him in everything from popular music videos alongside Jay Z and Sugar Ray-to sitcoms opposite The Wayans Brothers and Saturday Night Live’s, Tracy Morgan-to blockbuster movies alongside Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Chris Tucker and Ice Cube, amongst others. His scene-stealing roles in Boomerang, Little Nicky, House Party, Vampire in Brooklyn, and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, made him one of the most memorable funny men in America. Witherspoon has brought to life some of the most hilarious, unforgettable characters ever including, David Allen Grier’s fashionably challenged, mushroom-wearing father in the romantic comedy Boomerang, and the quirky, diner-owning father “Pops” on The WB’s The Wayans Brothers. One thing’s for sure… once you’ve seen Witherspoon you completely understand why he has earned the reputation as one of America’s funniest dads. New episodes premiere every Wednesday and can either be watched as videos over on GameSpot Universe or listened to in audio versions on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts.You probably remember John Witherspoon as Ice Cube’s (Craig’s) outrageously funny, dog-catching dad in New Line Cinema’s smash urban trilogy Friday, Next Friday & Friday After Next, or as “Pops” on the long-running syndicated sitcom The Wayans Brothers or as Spoon on NBC’s The Tracy Morgan Show.
Pops from the movie friday after next series#
If fate is kind, we can also hope he'll be involved in some capacity in the upcoming Anaconda reboot.įor more updates on the latest in entertainment, check out GameSpot's weekly TV series and movies-focused podcast, You Should Be Watching. "We feel like we all lost our pops, our grandpops, our uncle," Ice Cube says of the production's reaction to Witherspoon's death.Īlthough the fourth Friday is on indefinite hold, Ice Cube can be seen in The High Note, which will skip theaters for a paid on-demand release this May 29th. "But for now, it's really on the back burner." Witherspoon portrayed Willie Jones, the father of Ice Cube's character Craig, and was a central character in each of the three Friday movies. "Hopefully we'll figure it out," Ice Cube tells Meyers.
Now, it seems far less certain when, and if, the movie will release. Last year, Ice Cube was still hopeful that Last Friday-the fourth movie's working title-would be released in time for 2020 and the first film's 25th anniversary. Everybody saw his funny side, but he was also a serious, thoughtful guy."
"We're still grieving over the loss of such a talented, special man," Ice Cube continues.