Stalwart African-American player who has lent his comfortably weathered features and world-weary demeanor to many supporting roles on stage and screen. Cobbs convinces whether playing stubborn yet dignified fathers, melancholy denizens of bars and pool halls, or sympathetic authority figures. A latecomer to acting, Cobbs began in community theater in his native Cleveland while working as a car salesman. He moved to New York where he worked with the prestigious Negro Ensemble Company. He made his Broadway debut in "The First Breeze of Summer" and later appeared in Anthol Fugard's "Master Harold...and the Boys" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom".Cobbs has been a regular presence on TV since the late 1970s. After snaring a small role in "King" (NBC, 1978) he went on to the "NBC Live Theater" presentation of "The Member of the Wedding" (1982) and "Rage of Angels" (NBC, 1983). Cobbs worked with Black theater legends Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee on their PBS anthology series, "Ossie and Ruby", starring opposite Dee in "My Man Bovanne" (1987) directed by Davis. He was a regular on the short-lived ABC sitcoms "The 'Slap' Maxwell Story" (1988) and "Homeroom" (1989) and did guest shots on numerous series including "Designing Women" and "LA Law". Cobbs may be best remembered for his portrayal of Lewis Coleman, the strong traditional father of Regina Taylor's character on the acclaimed dramatic series "I'll Fly Away" (NBC, 1991-93) a role he reprised for the PBS TV-movie conclusion "I'll Fly Away: Then and Now" (1993).
Cobbs has also appeared in over 20 features since the late 70s including "The Brother From Another Planet", "The Cotton Club" (both 1984), "The Color of Money" (1986), "Bird" (1988) and "New Jack City" (1991). More recently he played Whitney Houston's manager in "The Bodyguard" (1992) and an old partner of defrosted anachronistic cop Sly Sly Stallone in "Demolition Man" (1993).
Profession(s):
Actor, car salesman
Sometimes Credited As:
William Cobbs
Drama Desk Award Most Promising Performance "What the Wine Sellers Buy" and "Freeman" 1973
2006 Cast opposite Ben Stiller in the action-adventure-comedy "Night at the Museum"
2002 Had a recurring role on the ABC series "The Drew Carey Show"
2001 Had a recurring role as Chaplain Matthew Turner on "JAG" (CBS)
2000 Had regular role on the NBC sic-fi drama "The Others"
2000 Appeared regularly on the short-lived "The Michael Richards Show" (NBC)
1997 Returned to series TV as regular on the CBS sitcom "The Gregory Hines Show"
1991 - 1993 Appeared as a regular on "I'll Fly Away", the acclaimed NBC drama series
1990 Co-starred with James Garner in "Decoration Day", a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation
1989 Appeared as a regular on "Homeroom", a short-lived ABC sitcom
1988 First recurring role in a TV series, the Dutchman on "The 'Slap' Maxwell Story", a highly regarded ABC sitcom
1987 Starred opposite Ruby Dee in "My Man Bovanne", a segment of "Ossie and Ruby" directed by Ossie Davis
1982 Appeared in the Broadway production of "Master Harold...and the Boys"
1982 First substantial TV role, "The Member of the Wedding", a presentation of "NBC Live Theater"
1978 TV debut, "King", an NBC biopic mini-series
1977 First notable film credit, "Greased Lightning"
Served in the US Army just after the Korean War
Started acting at age 35 while working as a used car salesman in his native Cleveland OH
Performed in community theater
Moved to NYC where he began working with the Negro Ensemble Company
Broadway debut, "The First Breeze of Summer"
