Rapper Ice Cube has paid tribute to the actor and comedian John Witherspoon, with whom he co-starred in the Friday series movies, after Witherspoon's death at the age of 77.

Witherspoon, who played the father of Ice Cube's character in the franchise, reportedly passed away at his home in Sherman Oaks on Tuesday, October 29. His exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

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Sharing a picture of the two of them together on Twitter, Ice Cube wrote: "I’m devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon. Life won’t be as funny without him."

Witherspoon's family first announced the news in a statement made to Deadline, writing: "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. [sic]"

They added: "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. [sic]"

Watch this obituary to the late actor and comedian in the video below: 

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Born in Detroit in 1942, Witherspoon was one of 11 siblings. He made his feature film debut in 1980 in The Jazz Singer, later appearing in films like Vampire In Brooklyn, Hollywood Shuffle, Boomerang, I'm Gonna Get Your Sucka, Soul Plane, and The Meteor Man. He later became known to younger generations as the voice of the character of Robert "Granddad" Freeman in the animated TV series The Boondocks.

American comedian and actor Roy Wood Jr. also expressed just how much Witherspoon meant to him in a series of emotional tweets:

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On social media, tributes have poured in from fans who have been left affected by the entertainer's death:

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Our thoughts are with Witherpoon's friends and family during this difficult time; he will be sorely missed.

Actor and comedian John Witherspoon, famous for appearing in Vampire In Brooklyn, Hollywood Shuffle, Boomerang, and The Boondocks has died at the age of 77.

The star of the Friday series of movies, where he played the father of Ice Cube's character, allegedly passed away at his home in Sherman Oaks on Tuesday, October 29. His exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

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In an official statement issued to Deadline, the celebrity's family wrote: "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."

They added: "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."

On social media, the news of Witherspoon's death was met with an outpouring of condolences and tributes from Twitter-users.

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Born in Detroit in 1942, Witherspoon one of 11 siblings. He made his feature film debut in 1980 in The Jazz Singer, later appearing in films like Vampire In Brooklyn, Hollywood Shuffle, Boomerang, I'm Gonna Get Your Sucka, Soul Plane, and The Meteor Man. He later became known to younger generations as the voice of the character of Robert "Granddad" Freeman in the animated TV series The Boondocks.

American comedian and actor Roy Wood Jr. also expressed just how much Witherspoon meant to him in a series of emotional tweets:

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Not only that, but he was also featured in Chance The Rapper's album 'The Big Day' on the skit track 'Photo Ops,' and made a number of cameos  in music videos like Jay-Z's 'I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)' as well as Field Mob's 'Sick Of Being Lonely.'

Our thoughts are with Witherpoons friends and family. It's clear that he will be sorely missed.

Robert Downey Jr has paid tribute to his "true maverick" filmmaker father after his death at the of 85 earlier this week.

The 56-year-old MCU star took to Instagram in an emotional post made on Wednesday, July 7, uploading a black and white image of his late father.

Downey Jr captioned the post:

"Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson's.

"He was a true maverick filmmaker and remained remarkably optimistic throughout... According to my stepmom's calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years.

"Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you."

Credit: Everett Collection Inc / Alamy

The filmmaker, best known for projects such as Babo 73, Putney Swope, Greaser's Palace, and Too Much Sun, had been battling Parkinson's for over five years prior to his passing.

He also starred as an actor in movies such as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and To Live and Die in LA, and directed a number of episodes of popular TV series such as Sticks and Bones and The Twilight Zone.

Downey Sr reportedly had a complicated relationship with his son and seemed to profess the belief that he was in some way responsible for the Iron Man lead's later issues with addiction.

Per a 2008 article by The Guardian, Downey Sr recalled that he had once jokingly passed his son a joint when he was just six years old.

The director stated: "I go, 'You ought to try a little of this instead of drinking.' I passed him a joint. And suddenly I knew I had made a terrible, stupid mistake ... giving a little kid a toke of grass just to be funny."

Per Salon, in a 1988 interview for the book The New Breed, Downey Jr claimed that substance abuse was something he and his dad actually engaged in as a form of bonding.

He stated: "When my dad and I would do drugs together, it was like him trying to express his love for me in the only way he knew how."

In addition to his son, Downey Sr is survived by his daughter Allyson Downey, and his spouse, author Rosemary Rogers.

Our thoughts are with Downey Sr's family, friends, and fans at this time.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Paul Bird

Following the heartbreaking death of actor Kenneth Mitchell, tributes have poured in on social media.

In a statement from his family, it was revealed that Mitchell passed away on February 24 at the age of 49 following a five-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Sharing a heartfelt statement on the actor's X account, his loved ones wrote: "With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend."

"Born in Toronto, Canada on November 25, 1974 to Diane and David Mitchell, Ken was widely known as an actor in many films and television shows," the tribute read. "He’s portrayed an Olympic hopeful, an apocalypse survivor, an astronaut, a superhero’s dad, and four unique Star Trekkers."

His loved ones then wrote that - despite being known as many names and faces to his fans - to them he was "a hope seeker, daydreamer, dream believer, soccer player, beach walker, bear hugger, landscape designer, garden grower, canoe paddler, happy camper, nature explorer, cat lover, infectious laugher, gift giver, note sender, movie goer, art maker, music listener, sports connoisseur, detailed particular, Leafs supporter, world traveler, uncle joker, younger brother, Susan’s partner, and more than anything else, a proud father."

Credit: Kenneth Mitchell / X

Mitchell is perhaps best known for his multiple roles in the Star Trek universe.

On the franchise's official website, a tribute reads: "StarTrek.com is deeply saddened to report the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, who played the Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as Aurellio, on Star Trek: Discovery. In addition, he voiced several voice characters in an episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks."

In fact, Mitchell's character of Aurellio was seen using a hoverchair - allowing Mitchell to still be able to perform amid his battle with ALS.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may also recognize Mitchell as Joseph Danvers, the father of a young Carol Danvers in the 2019 movie Captain Marvel.

Kenneth Mitchell in 2022. Credit: Variety / Getty

The actor is also known for his roles on the television shows Jericho, The Astronaut Wives Club, Ghost Whisperer, and Switched at Birth.

Following the news of Mitchell's passing, tributes have flooded social media.

"Kenneth Mitchell was a beacon of positivity throughout his journey. Anyone who saw it will never forget the video of him on the cruise," one fan wrote on X.  "He was a warrior. He was a voice of kindness. Rest in peace sir - thank you for sharing yourself with us."

Star Trek: The Cruise shared several photos of Mitchell surrounded by fans amid his ALS battle, writing: "It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to Kenneth Mitchell. Kenneth’s journey on this earth touched the lives of many, leaving an indelible mark of kindness, resilience, and unwavering spirit."

"What an incredible addition to the #StarTrek family Kenneth Mitchell has been. So talented and even more courageous. Thinking of his family and friends," another tweeted.

TV writer Ken Cuperus added: "Heartbreaking news. I had the pleasure of working alongside Kenneth a few years back and he was such a lovely guy. This is a big loss. Condolences to his family and all who knew and loved him."

Another fan gushed: "I am heartbroken by the loss of Kenneth Mitchell, a brilliant Star Trek actor and a courageous ALS fighter. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and fans. Rest in peace, Kenneth"

Over on Instagram, actor Sebastian Roché commented: "A ray of sunshine. Goodbye beautiful man. You are an inspiration to all of us. We love you Ken."

Back in August, Mitchell commemorated the fifth anniversary of his ALS diagnosis with a heartfelt post on Instagram.

Set to a beautiful image of him and his wife staring out at a sunset, Mitchelle wrote: "I want to celebrate today; the gift of life. I’m so thankful to have this day in front of me. It’s been a long 5 years. So much lost, so much gained. Incredibly hard times, mixed with so many more blessings."

"This disease is absolutely horrific…yet despite all the suffering, there is so much to be grateful for. Especially the little joys and resilience of today and the hope of a tomorrow," he added.

In honor of Mitchell's memory, his loved ones has established a GoFundMe campaign to support ALS research and provide for his family.

As of this writing, more than $23,000 has been raised.

Credit: GoFundMe

Mitchell is survived by his wife, Susan May Pratt, and their two children, Lilah and Callum.

Our thoughts continue to go out to Mitchell's family, friends, and fans at this time.

Featured image credit: Albert L. Ortega / Getty

Matthew Perry's stepdad has opened up about the star's death, including how the Friends star was feeling in the days prior to his passing.

Perry passed away at the age of 54 on October 28, 2023. First responders discovered the beloved actor unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles residence.

The Friends creators on their final conversation with Matthew Perry:

It has since been revealed that the actor died due to "the acute effects of ketamine," with the exact method of intake remaining undetermined. Contributing factors listed include drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, used to treat opioid use disorder, per TMZ.

Perry passed away aged 54. Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty

Keith Morrison, renowned Dateline correspondent, and stepfather to Perry has recently sat down with Hoda Kotb on her Making Space podcast to discuss the loss of the Friends star.

Reflecting on his grief, Morrison shared: “As other people have told me hundreds of times, it doesn't go away. It’s with you every day. It’s with you all the time, and there’s some new aspect of it that assaults your brain."

He added: "It’s not easy. Especially for his mom.”

Describing the bond between Perry and his mother Suzanne, Morrison revealed: "Toward the end of his life, they were closer than I've seen them for decades."

"He was happy, and he said so," Morrison recalled of Perry. "And he hadn't said that for a long time. So it's a source of comfort, but also he didn't get to have his third act, and that's not fair."

Morrison has opened up about his stepson's death. Credit: The Washington Post/Getty

Reflecting on the shocking news of Perry's death, Morrison shared: "It was the news you never want to get, but you think someday you might."

Describing Perry as "a larger-than-life person," Morrison reminisced about his stepson's personality, saying: "He was always the center of attention everywhere he went."

Speaking about Perry's struggles with addiction, the Dateline correspondent said: “He felt like he was beating it. But you never beat it, and he knew that, too.”

Perry's death caused shock across the world. Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty

Morrison also touched upon his relationship with Perry, saying: “He had that kind of very fiery personality, and mine is not like that, as you can imagine... But we got along fine. I never tried to replace his dad … but I was there for him, and he knew it, and we were close."

Perry's ex-girlfriend, Kayti Edwards - who he dated in 2006 and remained friends with until his death - has urged officials to reopen the investigation into his death.

"It needs to be looked at again. I know when Matthew was taking 40 to 50 Vicodin in a day, he was getting it from a nurse who would bring it to his house," she told the Mirror, speculating that foul play might have been involved.

Featured image credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty

Earlier today it was announced that comedian and actor Jerry Stiller has died at the age of 92 from natural causes.

Confirming the news on Twitter, son and actor Ben Stiller wrote: "I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad."

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Jerry Stiller is perhaps best known for starring as George Costanzas’ father Frank on the hit US sitcom Seinfeld, before going on to play Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens, alongside Kevin James and Leah Remini.

Following the news of his passing, tributes have poured in on social media for the late actor, including a heartwarming message from The King of Queens star Kevin James, who played Stiller's on-screen son-in-law in the hit US sitcom.

Posting to Instagram, James shared a photo showing him embracing his late friend, along with the caption:

"One of the most kind, loving, and funny people to ever grace this earth. Thank you for so many incredible memories. I love you and miss you. Requiescat in pace."

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Leah Remini, who played Jerry's on-screen daughter for nine years on The King of Queens, also posted a touching tribute on Instagram, alongside an image of the two of them. She wrote:

"I was lucky enough to work with Jerry Stiller, playing his daughter for 9 years on The King Of Queens, but even luckier to know him, the man, the husband, the father, the grandfather. I am only comforted knowing that Anne & Jerry, the great comedy duo of Stiller & Meara are back together. I will be forever grateful for the memories, the fatherly talks off screen and for the many years of laughter, the kindness he had shown to me and my family...You will be so very missed Jerry.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with you Amy & Ben."

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Actress Rebecca Metz also shared her memories of Jerry, writing: "Very early on, I had a few lines on King of Queens. My dad (also a Jerry) came to the taping and got to meet Jerry Stiller, who kvelled over how proud he must be of me. A comedy legend and the sweetest, most humble man. May his memory be a blessing."

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Stiller's former co-stars from the popular sitcom Seinfeld also shared their tributes on social media.

Jerry Seinfeld tweeted out: "Jerry Stiller's comedy will live forever."

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The titular star also shared a picture of him holding a copy of The Last Two People In the World, a classic 1967comedy LP Stiller released with his late wife Anne Meara.

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Seinfeld also retweeted a tribute from the sitcom's producer George Shapiro, that read: "So sad that Jerry Stiller left us at the young age of 92. There was no one sweeter than Jerry. He was a joy to work with and brought countless laughs to the set of 'Seinfeld'. One memory was so vivid with him & Julia breaking each other up doing 'You want a piece of me' bit"

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Actor Jason Alexander, who played Stiller's on-screen son in the beloved sitcom, also tweeted in honor of the late actor. He shared:

"Such sad news that my beloved friend, Jerry Stiller, has passed. He was perhaps the kindest man I ever had the honor to work beside. He made me laugh when I was a child and every day I was with him. A great actor, a great man, a lovely friend. #RIPJerryStiller I Love you."

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Alexander also shared a photo of the pair with the simple but heartwarming caption: "Yeah. I adored this man."

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The beloved comedian and actor was born in New York in 1927, and served in the US Army during World War II. In 1953, he married comedian Anne Meara. The two would go on to form the comedy duo act simply called Stiller and Meara.

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Stiller, who was Jewish, used the dissimilarities between him and his Catholic, Irish-American wife, who was also two inches taller, for what became their signature routine on The Ed Sullivan Show.

During a 2005 Archive of American Television sit-down with her husband, Meara said: "That was Jerry’s idea, to use and plumb the depths of our backgrounds, exaggerate them and have the two differences of the Jewish and the gentile."

They were married until her death at the age of 85 on May 23, 2015.

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Their daughter, Amy Stiller, is also an actress, and acted alongside her father in several King of Queens episodes.

Jerry also co-starred alongside son Ben in movies like Zoolander, Heavyweights, Hot Pursuit, The Heartbreak Kid, and Zoolander 2.

Our thoughts are with Jerry's family, friends, and fans at this time.