R.I.P. Comedian and Actor John Witherspoon – Dead at 77

Actor and comedian John Witherspoon, known to many for his role in the Friday films, has died. He was 77.

Late Tuesday night, Witherspoon’s family revealed the news in a statement posted on his Twitter account.

“It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband and father John Witherspoon has passed away,” the tweet read, which was accompanied by a photo of Witherspoon smiling widely.

“He was a legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you ‘POPS’ always & forever,” the statement concluded.

Witherspoon died on Tuesday at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, according to Deadline.

His family further opened up to the outlet, saying, “We are all in shock, please give us a minute for a moment in privacy and we will celebrate his life and his work together. John used to say ‘I’m no big deal,’ but he was a huge deal to us.”

A cause of death is not immediately clear.

#RIPJohnWitherspoon