"Police Academy,"Moses Hightower dead at 66

[RVR II]

Former NFL Star and 'Police Academy' Actor Bubba Smith Found Dead

Published August 03, 2011

AP

In this December 1967 file photo, Baltimore Colts defensive tackle Bubba Smith walks on a football field, location not known. Smith, a former NFL defensive star who found a successful second career as an actor, has died in Los Angeles at age 66.

LOS ANGELES –  NFL star-turned-actor Bubba Smith was found dead Wednesday in his Los Angeles home at age 66.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Smith's body was discovered by a caretaker. A cause of death has not yet been determined.

Smith, best remembered for his role in comedy film series "Police Academy," played professional football with the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers.

The six-foot-seven, 265-pound defensive lineman made two Pro Bowl appearances during his nine-year career.

Smith's fame skyrocketed in 1984 with the release of "Police Academy," in which the former football player portrayed the role of the soft-spoken, yet physically dominating Moses Hightower.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/08/03/former-nfl-star-and-police-academy-actor-bubba-smith-found-dead/#ixzz1U1EFPQBz

[Tripe]

Pretty young, though not as young as one of his costars.

It's very sad.

[Thrifty]

That's a shame.  I'd say the first two Police Academy movies had a certain charm to them, before they got really irritating.  I loved them all as a kid, but when I watched them again last year, I was taken aback by the sheer awfulness of 3-7.  Especially 7.  But especially 4.

[Rainbow Dash]

[SJP]

Pretty young, though not as young as one of his costars.

It's very sad.

I followed that link.  I had no idea that Tackleberry had been dead for a decade.  Finding out about both of them the same day made things even more depressing.

[Darth Geek]

Pretty young, though not as young as one of his costars.

It's very sad.

I followed that link.  I had no idea that Tackleberry had been dead for a decade.  Finding out about both of them the same day made things even more depressing.

Tackleberry died ten years ago?! Damn. Even though I normally hate gun nuts, his character was entertaining as hell in the first few of those movies.

[Tripe]

Yeah he had a congenital defect, his father died around the same age.