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Bubba Smith, former Baltimore Colts defensive end, 'Police Academy' actor, passes away in L.A.
BY Nancy Dillon
DAILY NEWS WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF
Wednesday, August 3rd 2011, 8:38 PM
Handout/AP
Baltimore Colts defensive end Bubba Smith (r., below) rushes New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath during Super Bowl III in Jan. 1969. The Jets beat the Colts, 16-7.
Tony Tomsic/NFL
Los Angeles, Bubba Smith, the feared NFL defensive end who gained post-football fame as the gentle giant of six "Police Academy" movies, died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. He was 66.
Police were called to his tidy one-story house in the Baldwin Hills neighborhood around 12:45 p.m. and found him already deceased.
"It appeared to be from natural causes, but that will be determined by the coroner," LAPD spokesman Richard French told the Daily News.
"Bubba was a sweet and honest man who told hilarious stories and took no bull," his Police Academy costar Bobcat Goldthwait told the Daily News.
"He was a big part of my fond memories making those movies," he said. "Sitting around with him, talking about football - even someone like me who didn't follow the game still laughed. He will be missed."
Smith, whose real name was Charles Aaron Smith, was the top overall pick in the 1967 draft after an electrifying career at Michigan State that eventually landed him in the College Football Hall of Fame. He played five seasons with the Baltimore Colts, winning the 1971 Super Bowl with the team.
He later spent two seasons each with the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers.
A hulking man who stood 6 feet 7 inches, he often drew two blockers. He was selected All Pro one year and made two Pro Bowls. .
His portrayal of the soft-spoken behemoth Moses Hightower in the popular "Police Academy" franchise won him just as many fans off the gridiron.
Featured in all but the seventh film, he played an unlikely florist who got "bored" with flowers and decided to become a cop.
In one famous gag, his character practiced for a driving test by ripping out the front seat of a compact car and steering comfortably from the back.
He later makes Lieutenant by wrestling an alligator to save another character's life.
BY Nancy Dillon
DAILY NEWS WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF
Wednesday, August 3rd 2011, 8:38 PM
Handout/APBaltimore Colts defensive end Bubba Smith (r., below) rushes New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath during Super Bowl III in Jan. 1969. The Jets beat the Colts, 16-7.
Tony Tomsic/NFLLos Angeles, Bubba Smith, the feared NFL defensive end who gained post-football fame as the gentle giant of six "Police Academy" movies, died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. He was 66.
Police were called to his tidy one-story house in the Baldwin Hills neighborhood around 12:45 p.m. and found him already deceased.
"It appeared to be from natural causes, but that will be determined by the coroner," LAPD spokesman Richard French told the Daily News.
"Bubba was a sweet and honest man who told hilarious stories and took no bull," his Police Academy costar Bobcat Goldthwait told the Daily News.
"He was a big part of my fond memories making those movies," he said. "Sitting around with him, talking about football - even someone like me who didn't follow the game still laughed. He will be missed."
Smith, whose real name was Charles Aaron Smith, was the top overall pick in the 1967 draft after an electrifying career at Michigan State that eventually landed him in the College Football Hall of Fame. He played five seasons with the Baltimore Colts, winning the 1971 Super Bowl with the team.
He later spent two seasons each with the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers.
A hulking man who stood 6 feet 7 inches, he often drew two blockers. He was selected All Pro one year and made two Pro Bowls. .
His portrayal of the soft-spoken behemoth Moses Hightower in the popular "Police Academy" franchise won him just as many fans off the gridiron.
Featured in all but the seventh film, he played an unlikely florist who got "bored" with flowers and decided to become a cop.
In one famous gag, his character practiced for a driving test by ripping out the front seat of a compact car and steering comfortably from the back.
He later makes Lieutenant by wrestling an alligator to save another character's life.