Wednesday, former NFL football player and “Police Academy” actor Bubba Smith was found dead.
ESPN reported that Smith was found dead at his Los Angeles home at the age of 66. It was assumed that he died of natural causes and no foul place was involved. L.A. Times reported that the L.A. County coroner’s office will decide Thursday whether to perform an autopsy.
The 6’7” NFL defensive lineman was the top draft pick in 1967. Over the course of his football career, he spent five seasons with the Baltimore Colts– helping them win the Super Bowl in 1971– two seasons with the Oakland Raiders and two seasons with the Houston Oilers before retiring at the end of the 1976 season.New York Times.
Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and Michigan State retired his number 95 in 2006.
Following his successful career in sports, Smith turned to another career, acting. He was best known for his role in “Police Academy” where he played Moses Hightower. Smith also appeared in other television shows like “Blue Thunder,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Married With Children” and “Good Times,” among others.
