Veteran actor Lee Weaver, who rose to fame through the 1960s and 1970s, died on September 22, according to new reports.
Forbes claim the actor passed away at his Los Angeles home aged 95, with a statement from his family adding that he “wove joy, depth, and representation into every role he played and everything he did.”
Weaver was born April 10, 1930, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and made his first foray into the entertainment industry as a stage performer in the 1950s. Prior to that – as per the Hollywood Reporter – he served four years in the U.S. Army, as well as working as a linotype engineer for The New York Times and serving as a promoter at the legendary Birdland jazz club.
He eventually transitioned from the stage to TV work, landing his first screen role in the adventure series Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.
The following two decades saw Weaver rise to recognition with television audiences through appearances in such shows as Good Morning World, I Spy, The Wild, Wild West, Mannix, Julia, and The Bill Cosby Show.
He later guest-starred in a number of other popular shows including Kojak, The Blue Knight, Soap, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Weaver also found success in voice acting, lending his talents to films like How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), Donnie Darko (2001), and The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005).
More recently, he played Mel Cordray on two episodes of the Netflix show Grace and Frankie.
Weaver is survived by his wife of 54 years, actress Ta-Tanisha. The couple share one daughter, Leis La-Te.
Rest in peace, Lee Weaver, and thanks for the memories!
