Family, friends, fans share sorrow over death of actor John Witherspoon

It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband & father John Witherspoon has passed away. He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you “POPS” always & forever.

- The Witherspoon Family pic.twitter.com/ov9P34kaMn

— John Witherspoon (@John_POPS_Spoon) October 30, 2019

So...my Dad died today & honestly I’m not sure how to feel. I’m sad, but I’m also happy 4 all the great times we had together. We’d roast each other like homies more than Father & Son, and I really liked that. He was my best friend & my idol.

Love U Dad...I’ll miss u.

- J.D. pic.twitter.com/zvzep5S11I

— J.D. (@jdwitherspoon) October 30, 2019

I’m devastated over the passing of John Witherspoon. Life won’t be as funny without him. pic.twitter.com/gtmiZiEppP

— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 30, 2019

My dad, my grandpa, my comedic inspiration! I love you Spoons! Rest In Paradise, King pic.twitter.com/U6GsNrrKXF

— Regina King (@ReginaKing) October 30, 2019

I’m sad. Broken. Hurt.. yet extremely grateful to God that i got to spend 5 years of my life working with one of the funniest sweetest wisest humblest loving man johnwitherspoon you were my tv dad and my mentor and… https://t.co/OymyEkrFSk

— marlon wayans (@MarlonWayans) October 30, 2019

View this post on Instagram

Awe man!! This is a hurt piece !! So sorry to hear the news we lost my dear friend and funny comedic legend. @johnnywitherspoon was an original!!! A considerate, hardworking, treasure of a human being. God bless your loving family 🙏🏾. You will be missed sir. #bangbang!Bang! #Cooooordinate🤣. #ripspoon

A post shared by Cedric The Entertainer (@cedtheentertainer) on Oct 29, 2019 at 11:52pm PDT

Grateful for the laughs, popular sayings, and your contributions to the culture.

John Witherspoon will forever be EVERYBODY’S “Pops”.
May he Rest In Peace. #RIP pic.twitter.com/h5ljuCKUsA

— Alex Holley (@AlexHolleyFOX29) October 30, 2019

I don’t understand how comedy is supposed to work now without John Witherspoon 💔

— Robin Thede (@robinthede) October 30, 2019

Very sad to report .. Thank you John for hiring me when I needed it the most!! Make God Laugh John Witherspoon Dies: Comedian & ‘Friday’ Star Was 77 – Deadline https://t.co/B0bHzjg5NN

— Loni Love (@LoniLove) October 30, 2019

View this post on Instagram

John Witherspoon resonated with every last one of us because he represented someone in our family: embarrassing us at gatherings (Boomerang), misrepresenting our generations heroes (“Public Enema”?!), making a jingle about pretty much everything (Grandpa on Boondocks), the neighborhood wino (black Jesus—-or better yet Hollywood Shuffle)—-the list is endless. Bar none my favorite working/blue collar actor. Prolly THE most famous iconic character actor (I mean he didn’t star in vehicles but he was no doubt THE go to support) the best knew to get the best. When interviewing @davidalangrier on @QLS him describing what should have been a routine 15 min scene at the family table in Boomerang wound up being a non stop hour and a half us master class riffing amongst masters, with Witherspoon leading the way. History should tell it well, all the greats utilized him on their project for the last 45 years (Richard Pryor Show/Whats Happening!/Good Times/WKRP/227/Martin/Amen/Fresh Prince/Wayans Bros/Living Single/Boondocks/First Family/blackish/Black Jesus)—-he will forever be our pop pops. RIP

A post shared by Questlove Froman, (@questlove) on Oct 30, 2019 at 6:04am PDT

John Witherspoon, a dear friend of Cookie and I, passed away yesterday. John was a great comedian, actor, and had the biggest heart. Our prayers go out to his wife Angela, sons, and the entire Witherspoon family. Thank you for making us laugh all of these years. RIP my friend.🙏🏾

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 30, 2019

For a funny man John Witherspoon sure knew how to drop pearls of wisdom! RIP John Witherspoon! pic.twitter.com/pYJzRJq6fy

— Fred Blankenship (@FBlankenshipWSB) October 30, 2019

"You win some, you lose some, but you live. You live to fight another day." In between the laughs from his comedic excellence in various roles, John Witherspoon taught a generation of black boys and black men some valuable lessons. RIP Pops. RIP Grandad. RIP King. pic.twitter.com/1MVAjrA9TL

— Redefining Black Masculinity (@blkmascsouls) October 30, 2019

RIP POPS #JohnWitherspoon 🙌🏾One of the greatest man this my favorite clip from him 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/c7StYTQdcU

— Harold Givens (Thegiven1) 🙇🏾‍♂️💰 (@HaroldGivens6) October 30, 2019

John Witherspoon was everyone’s Pops! Put some hot sauce on that burrito in Heaven!😢 RIP Pops 🙏🏿❤️ pic.twitter.com/AB0oybGXZ8

— James Andre Jefferson Jr. (@JamesJeffersonJ) October 30, 2019

One of the hardest parts about getting older is losing the icons you grew up watching. John Witherspoon knew how to make black people laugh, BANG BANG BANG! RIP Pops 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/fiOxPQOShe

— Joshua Chenault (@joshuachenault1) October 30, 2019

This hurts to see. John Witherspoon was such a personality full of soul and passion and you could tell he had love for everybody. Nobody will be able to replace him. I hope there's an afterlife and that god has accepted you in his kingdom.#RIPPOPS #RIPJohnWhitherspoon pic.twitter.com/ysiF7hnOpV

— Ultimate Mitsuru Kirijo Stan (@redhairbesthair) October 30, 2019