John Witherspoon, born on January 27, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, was a celebrated American comedian and actor. Best known for his role as Willie Jones in the iconic comedy film Friday, he also gained recognition for his performances in Boomerang and Hollywood Shuffle. His memorable comedic style made him a standout figure in both film and television, with noted roles in TV series such as The Boondocks, where he voiced Granddad, The Tracy Morgan Show, and Black Jesus.
Witherspoon began his television career in the 1970s, making one of his earliest appearances on the detective series Barnaby Jones. He later portrayed minor roles in hit sitcoms such as Good Times, where he played an officer, and What’s Happening!! as a disc jockey. He also appeared in The Incredible Hulk as Tommy and WKRP in Cincinnati.
Throughout the 1980s, he appeared in a variety of popular TV programs. He had a supporting role in NBC’s police drama Hill Street Blues, portraying a businessman. Additional roles included appearances in L.A. Law, and the sitcom You Again, in which he played Osborne in 1986. He guest-starred in sitcoms such as 227 (1987) and Amen (1988), broadening his presence on mainstream television.
In the 2000s, Witherspoon made a number of prominent television appearances. He featured on NBC’s reality comedy competition Last Comic Standing. He voiced characters in the Disney Channel’s animated series The Proud Family and had a recurring role as “Spoon” in The Tracy Morgan Show in 2003. In 2004, he lent his voice to the Disney Channel animated show Kim Possible.
He continued making guest appearances, including a spot on Comedy Central’s Weekends at the D.L. in 2005 and later appeared in the 2008 comedy mix show Super Rumble Mixshow. In 2011, he featured in a Final Destination spoof video on YouTube along with actor James Dawson.
In addition to his acting career, Witherspoon appeared in several music videos, such as Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” and Field Mob’s “Sick of Being Lonely.” He also demonstrated his talents as a writer, penning the film From the Old School.
Witherspoon married Angela Robinson in 1988. Together, they had two children, Alexander and John David Witherspoon. The family maintained a relatively private life, while John continued his professional endeavors in comedy and acting.
Born John Weatherspoon—professionally known as John Witherspoon—he was affectionately referred to by fans as “Pops,” a nickname popularized by his comedic roles. Standing approximately 5 feet 10 inches (about 178 cm) tall, he was known for his distinct salt-and-pepper hair and charismatic screen presence. His astrological sign was Aquarius, and he was openly heterosexual. Of African-American ethnicity, he proudly identified with his Detroit roots—often cited as a foundational influence on his comedic style.
| Birth Date: | 27 Jan, 1942 |
| Age: | 78 yrs |
| Occupations: | Comedian Voice actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Detroit |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor |
| Twitter Id: | John_pops_spoon |
| Spouse: | Angela Robinson Witherspoon[1987-2019] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 4 million |
