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John Witherspoon

Highest Rated: 88% Hollywood Shuffle (1987)

Lowest Rated: 11% The Ladies Man (2000)

Birthday: Jan 27, 1942

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA

John Witherspoon was an American stand-up comedian and actor who appeared in numerous comedy films and TV shows. Witherspoon was one of 11 children, pursuing music as a young man with his brother William, who would go on to success as a songwriter and producer at Motown. Witherspoon made his start as a stand-up in the early '70s, soon appearing in small parts in popular sitcoms like "Good Times" and "What's Happening!!" as well as dramatic shows like the crime drama "Barnaby Jones" and the comic book hit "The Incredible Hulk." In the late '80s Witherspoon made inroads with many of the African-American members of Hollywood, appearing in Robert Townsend's 1987 comedy "Hollywood Shuffle," Keenen Ivory Wayans's comedy "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" in 1988, and Reginald Hudlin's teen comedy "House Party" in 1990. In 1995, Witherspoon appeared as the irritable Mr. Jones in the hit comedy "Friday" with Ice Cube and returned in both sequels. In 1995 he was cast as John 'Pops' Williams in the WB sitcom "The Wayans Brothers," which lasted for five seasons. Witherspoon played the part of Spoon on NBC's comedy "The Tracy Morgan Show" in 2003. In 2005 he began lending his voice to the character Robert 'Granddad' Freeman on the animated program "The Boondocks." Witherspoon was also a close friend of talk show host David Letterman, who is the godfather to his son. In 2011, Witherspoon starred in the comedy "A Thousand Words" with comedy great Eddie Murphy. John Witherspoon died on October 29, 2019 at the age of 77.

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Highest rated movies

88% 80% Hollywood Shuffle
Watchlist
76% 91% Friday
Watchlist
49% 59% Boomerang Watchlist 41% 26% Dr. Dolittle 2 Watchlist 40% 60% Reality Queen! Watchlist
36% 74% Bebe's Kids
Watchlist
26% 75% Friday After Next
Watchlist
26% 70% The Jazz Singer
Watchlist
25% 20% Ratboy
Watchlist
22% 76% Next Friday
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
40% 60% Reality Queen! Joe the Plumber (Character) - 2019
No Score Yet 62% I Got the Hook-Up 2 Mr. Mimm (Character) $234.8K 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet Boosters Unknown (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 40% Chick Magnet John (Character) - 2011
No Score Yet 89% The Hustle Mr. Wikes (Character) - 2008
12% 55% Little Man Pops (Character) $58.3M 2006
18% 51% Soul Plane Blind Man (Character) $13.9M 2004
26% 75% Friday After Next Willie Jones (Character) $33.0M 2002
41% 26% Dr. Dolittle 2 Zoo Bear #2 (Voice) $113.0M 2001
11% 42% The Ladies Man Scrap Iron (Character) $13.6M 2000
22% 76% Next Friday Mr. Jones (Character) $57.2M 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet High Freakquency Wes Thomas (Character) - 1998
17% 64% I Got the Hook-Up Mr. Mimm (Character) $10.3M 1998
No Score Yet 72% Ride Roscoe (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet 24-7 Wes Thomas (Character) - 1998
20% 73% Sprung Detective (Character) $7.6M 1997
No Score Yet 64% Fakin' Da Funk Bill (Character) - 1997
11% 31% Vampire in Brooklyn Silas Green (Character) $18.7M 1995
76% 91% Friday Mr. Jones (Character) $27.4M 1995
49% 59% Boomerang Mr. Jackson (Character) $66.7M 1992
36% 74% Bebe's Kids Card Player 1 (Voice) $7.5M 1992
No Score Yet 66% Talkin' Dirty After Dark Dukie (Character) - 1991
No Score Yet 30% Killer Tomatoes Strike Back Evan Rood (Character) - 1990
88% 80% Hollywood Shuffle Mr. Jones (Character) $5.2M 1987
25% 20% Ratboy Heavy (Character) $1.9K 1986
26% 70% The Jazz Singer M.C. at Cinderella Club (Character) - 1980

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dad on Board Host 2017
53% 73% White Famous Limo Driver (Guest Star) 2017
92% 57% black-ish Unknown (Guest Star) 2016
23% 53% Anger Management Will (Guest Star) 2014
100% 78% Late Show With David Letterman Guest 2013
48% 81% The Boondocks Unknown (Voice) 2007
40% No Score Yet The Tracy Morgan Show Spoon (Character) 2003-2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Unknown (Voice) 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Wayans Bros. Unknown (Character) 1995-1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Living Single Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
No Score Yet 91% The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Unknown (Guest Star) 1994
60% No Score Yet Townsend Television Unknown (Character) 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Frank's Place Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barnaby Jones Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Good Times Officer Lawson (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet 74% Incredible Hulk Unknown (Guest Star) 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Def Comedy Jam Host