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Bill Cobbs

Bill Cobbs

Birthday: 1934-06-16 | Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Bill Cobbs was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where his parents were hard-working people, who instilled in him a sense of self-reliance and humility. As an amateur actor in the city's Karamu House Theater, he starred in the Ossie Davis play "Purlie Victorious". Cobbs was an Air Force radar technician for eight years; he also worked in office products at IBM and sold cars in Cleveland. In 1970, at the age of 36, he left for New York to seek work as an actor. There he turned down a job in the NBC sales department in order to have time for auditions. He supported himself by driving a cab, repairing office equipment, selling toys, and performing odd jobs. His first professional acting role was in "Ride a Black Horse" at the Negro Ensemble Company. From there, he appeared in small theater productions, street theater, regional theater and at the Eugene O'Neill Theater. His first television credit was in Vegetable Soup (1975), a New York public television educational series, and he made his feature film debut in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). In his free time, Cobbs enjoys music, reading, and playing his drums. He lives in New York City and Los Angeles, California and continues acting.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2022
Caroltyn

as    Dr. Mason

2022
Block Party

as    Uncle Jim

2021
Saving Paradise

as    John Thompson

2019
Beyond the Law

as    Swilley

2017
Call Me King

as    Malachi

2016
The Great Gilly Hopkins

as    Mr Randolph

2015
A House Is Not a Home

as    Paul

2015
The Ultimate Legacy

as    Ted Hamilton

2013
Oz the Great and Powerful

as    Master Tinker

2013
The Last Letter

as    Pastor

2013
Dear Secret Santa

as    Ted

2013
The Ultimate Life

as    Ted Hamilton

2011
The Tenant

as    Jack Rymer

2010
Get Low

as    Rev. Charlie Jackson

2009
Black Water Transit

as    Frank Vermillion

2008
The Morgue

as    George

2007
The Ultimate Gift

as    Ted Hamilton

2006
Hard Luck

as    Cobb

2006
Night at the Museum

as    Reginald

2005
The Final Patient

as    Dr. Daniel Green

2005
The Derby Stallion

as    Houston Jones

2002
Enough

as    Jim Toller

2000
The Others

as    Elmer Greentree

2000
The Michael Richards Show

as    Jack

2000
For All Time

as    Proprietor / Conductor