'Police Academy' actor and NFL star Charles 'Bubba' Smith dies
August 3rd, 2011
06:41 PM ET

'Police Academy' actor and NFL star Charles 'Bubba' Smith dies

Former NFL star and movie actor Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith has died, the Los Angeles Coroner's Chief of Forensic Examinations said.

Smith spent nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive end in the '60s and '70s. He's perhaps best known for his role as Moses Hightower in the "Police Academy" movies.

Police and fire officials were called to Smith's Baldwin Hils house after "he was found unresponsive," and pronounced him dead, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of operations and investigation for the coroner. The body will be taken to the coroner's office, where an autopsy will be performed to determine cause of death, Winter said.

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soundoff (153 Responses)
  1. Jimmy Crack Corn

    So sad.. Bless his family.

    August 3, 2011 at 7:47 pm | Report abuse |
  2. BlackDynamite

    RIP Hightower
    RIP "Spare Tire"
    BD

    August 3, 2011 at 7:49 pm | Report abuse |
    • vickchick

      Rest in Peace, Bubba. We never know what God's plans are. My sincere condolences to your family and friends. He will be missed.

      August 3, 2011 at 8:01 pm | Report abuse |
    • Awakenings

      If I need advice on God's plan then I will certainly ask someone named Vickchick. You can hook me up to a car battery, so I can transmit my prayers better. You probably stuff as much sausage in that hallway pigskin as possible. I'm going to be sick now. Thank you.

      August 3, 2011 at 8:09 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Gene Gilespie

    Another great one gone. RIP Bubba.

    August 3, 2011 at 7:51 pm | Report abuse |
  4. mike smith

    i remember his college playing days. he hated notre dame and was the factor in their 10-10 tie in 1966!

    August 3, 2011 at 7:51 pm | Report abuse |
  5. db

    Sorry to hear that talent like that departs while nitwits still prevail. Hightower will never die as it is on film and will that type of movie will last forever.

    August 3, 2011 at 7:53 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Ben Hutchins

    Hightower was great too, but I'll always think of him first from those beer commercials he was in when I was a kid, which were part of the Wide World of Sports experience. "And the winner is... Bubba Smith."

    August 3, 2011 at 7:56 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Mark McKee

    What a great player. What a great actor. Thanks for all the joy Bubba.

    August 3, 2011 at 7:56 pm | Report abuse |
    • vickchick

      I would love to be watching "Police Academy" right now. So funny.

      August 3, 2011 at 8:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • vickchick

      I would love to be watching "Police Academy" right now.

      August 3, 2011 at 8:04 pm | Report abuse |
  8. fred

    loved the ads he did with his Pal Rodney Dangerfield and other players, RIP brother!

    August 3, 2011 at 7:57 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Chris

    Gone from sight but never forgotten we will always have fond memories of bubba man im tired of people dying death itself will one day be a worldwide memory what was his health issue i wonder home sweet home bro rest easy now

    August 3, 2011 at 8:00 pm | Report abuse |
  10. oh please

    so...don't even report anymore eh? HE DIED HOW???????

    "I said he dead"
    Thats about all the info we need as a report huh? CNN has gone downhill

    August 3, 2011 at 8:00 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Dizzyd

    RIP

    August 3, 2011 at 8:02 pm | Report abuse |
  12. oh please

    btw: there is NO REASON for a mixed race spiderman.

    can we get off the political crap and stop trying to appease the overpopulating masses
    do the math, leading non white comic characters do not do well. "reading is for white folk" is the opinion of most of the minority community.

    August 3, 2011 at 8:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • Awakenings

      @oh please: As much as I do not like PC brainwashing you are wrong about black superheros not doing well on film. The Blade trilogy did quite well as did Spawn. There was a black character for the Green Lantern. Do we need to change things all the time to make people feel good? No, but if there happens to be an already existing character then who cares?

      August 3, 2011 at 8:13 pm | Report abuse |
  13. American Public

    Very poor journalism on CNN's part. He died. This is what he did. 3 sentences long. RIP Bubba- you deserved more than 3 sentences.

    August 3, 2011 at 8:04 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Linda J. Johnson

    SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT BUBBA SMITH'S PASSING! HE WAS A GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER AND ACTOR!!! I LOVED HIM ON GOOD TIMES!!!! REST IN PEACE!!!!!!!

    August 3, 2011 at 8:08 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Mustard

    Cause of death? You can at least type, "cause of death at this time is unknown". How hard is that CNN?

    August 3, 2011 at 8:09 pm | Report abuse |
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