Donald Gibb, the imposing actor whose huge physique and severe presence made him an unforgettable position in Nineteen Eighties comedies like Revenge of the Nerds and martial arts movies like Blood sportdied. He was 71 years outdated.
Gibb’s son, Travis, confirmed his father’s dying to TMZincluding that he died at his dwelling in Texas, surrounded by his household, following well being problems.
Finest identified for taking part in the powerful and not-so-bright jock Frederick “Ogre” Palowaski in Three Revenge of the Nerds movies, Gibb used his imposing determine and physique to nice comedic impact and his character’s willingness to shout “Nerds!” ” to members of the Tri-Lambs fraternity each time he noticed them, he secured his place in popular culture and a coveted reference in The Simpsons.
Born in New York on August 4, 1954, Gibb grew up in California. He attended the College of New Mexico on a basketball scholarship earlier than transferring to the College of San Diego, the place he performed soccer. His athletic prowess briefly led him to the NFL, the place he performed for the San Diego Chargers earlier than a automotive accident modified his path to Hollywood.
Given his top, his early appearing roles consisted primarily of enjoying heavyweights – henchmen, bouncers, murderers – in commercially profitable movies like In each attainable manner (1980), Grooves (1981) and Conan the Barbarian (1982). His large breakthrough got here in 1984 together with his position as Ogre in Revenge of the Nerdswhich was an enormous field workplace success and have become a popular culture phenomenon.
Rightly acknowledged for his comedic talents as a lot as his distinctive top, Gibb went on to star in a lot of comedies, together with Meatballs, Half II (1984), Misplaced in America (1985), Transylvania 6-5000 (1985), Jocks (1986) and They nonetheless name me Bruce (1987).
In 1987, Gibb reprized the position of Ogre in Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradisethough this movie was considerably much less commercially profitable and fewer culturally impactful than the primary movie. Gibb’s Ogre would additionally star within the 1994 TV film, Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love.
Gibb would tackle arguably his second most well-known position in 1988. Blood sportenjoying the turbulent American fighter Ray “Tiny” Jackson. Within the movie, Gibb’s Jackson is the marginally comical nod to Jean-Claude Van Damme’s tense and brooding Frank Dux as the 2 fighters enter the Kumite, an underground martial arts match in Hong Kong’s legendary Kowloon Walled Metropolis. The movie was an enormous success and a basic of the martial arts style that even counts Donald Trump as an enormous fan. Gibbs was the one one Blood sport actor who reprized his character within the long-delayed 1996 sequel, Bloodsport II: the following kumite.
His different vital movie credit embody US Marshals (1998), Durango Children (1999), and Hancock (2008).
On tv, Gibb had an extended and profitable appearing profession, unsurprisingly enjoying an assortment of criminals, prisoners, bouncers, bikers, and extra. His most notable exhibits on tv embody a number of episodes of An odd science, Step-by-step, Stand by your man and a starring position within the HBO sitcom 1st and ten which additionally starred OJ Simpson.
He additionally performed small roles in Knight Rider, Quantum Soar, Seinfeld, MacGyver, Magnum PI, Night time Courtroom, Cheers, The X Information And Crew A.
Gibb is survived by his spouse, Jacqueline, and his prolonged household.