Bill Cobbs Net Worth

What Was Bill Cobbs's Net Worth?

Bill Cobbs was a prominent American actor with a net worth of $2 million. Throughout his five-decade-long career, Cobbs garnered nearly 200 acting credits. He is best remembered for his performances in notable films such as “The Hitter,” “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “Night at the Museum,” “The Bodyguard,” and “The Brother from Another Planet,” as well as in television series like “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “The Sopranos.”

Early Life

William Francis Cobbs was born on June 16, 1934, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the son of Vera and David Cobbs. His mother worked as a domestic worker and his father in construction. After high school, Cobbs served as a radar technician in the United States Air Force for eight years. He later held jobs at IBM and as a car salesman in Cleveland. During this time, he began honing his acting skills at the African American Performing Arts Center and the Karamu House Theatre in Cleveland.

Career

At 36 years old in 1970, Cobbs relocated to New York to pursue acting. To support himself, he drove a cab, repaired office equipment, sold toys, and performed various odd jobs initially. Cobbs made his feature film debut in 1974 with “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.” The following year, he appeared in the short film “A Boy and a Boa.” His role as Mr. Jones in “Greased Lightning” in 1977 and Louisiana Slim in “The Hitter” in 1979 showcased his versatility as an actor. Throughout the 1980s, Cobbs continued building his filmography with roles in “Trading Places,” “Silkwood,” “The Brother from Another Planet,” “The Cotton Club,” and many more.

In the 1990s, Cobbs's film career flourished further. He appeared in “New Jack City,” “The Hard Way,” and “The People Under the Stairs” in 1991. He took on roles in “Roadside Prophets,” “Exiled in America,” and “The Bodyguard” in 1992. The following year, he played aged Zachary Lamb in “Demolition Man” and appeared in “Fatal Instinct.” His portrayal of Moses in “The Hudsucker Proxy” in 1994 remains memorable. Cobbs continued with numerous roles through the decade, including standout performances in “Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead,” “Fluke,” “Man with a Gun,” “First Kid,” “That Thing You Do!,” and many more.

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During the 2000s, Cobbs acted in films like “Sunshine State,” “A Mighty Wind,” “Lost,” “Duck,” “The Final Patient,” “The Ultimate Gift,” “Night at the Museum,” and “The Morgue.” In the 2010s, his film credits included “The Arcadian,” “The Muppets,” “Of Mind and Music,” “Call Me King,” and “Beyond the Law.” Cobbs also reprised his role as Reginald in the “Night at the Museum” films.

Cobbs's television career was equally prolific. He first appeared in “Good Times” in 1976, followed by “Baby, I'm Back” in 1977 and the miniseries “King” in 1978. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in numerous TV shows including “The Equalizer,” “Kate & Allie,” “Spenser: For Hire,” “L.A. Law,” “Gabriel's Fire,” “Decoration Day,” “Empty Nest,” “NYPD Blue,” “ER,” and “The Outer Limits.” Notably, he was a main cast member in “I'll Fly Away” and “The Gregory Hines Show.”

In the 2000s and beyond, Cobbs featured in several popular TV series. He had a nine-episode stint on “The Drew Carey Show,” became a recurring character on “Go On” and “Greenleaf,” and appeared in six episodes of “Dino Dana” from 2017 to 2019. His role in “Dino Dana” earned him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Performance in a Daytime Program in 2020. That same year, Cobbs guest-starred in the two-part series finale of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” as an elderly S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.