We have to start the day with some sad news – and if you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s like I did, this one may be devastating. It has been confirmed that actor Donald Gibb, best known for playing Frederick “Ogre” Palowaski in the Revenge of the Nerds franchise and for appearing alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport, has passed away at the age of 71. His death comes less than three months after we lost his Nerds co-star Robert Carradine.
What did Donald Gibb work on?
The Hollywood Reporter lets us know that Gibb was born in New York City on August 4, 1954, and raised in California. He attended the University of New Mexico on a basketball scholarship, then switched over to playing football at the University of San Diego. That led him to the NFL, where he played for the San Diego Chargers until suffering an injury in a car accident. With his football career over, he set his sights on film and television.
During an acting career that spanned 46 years, Gibb racked up 100 screen credits. He made his screen debut as a henchman in the 1980 Clint Eastwood film Any Which Way You Can, and followed that up with roles in the likes of Stripes, Conan the Barbarian, Meatballs Part II, Transylvania 6-5000, They Still Call Me Bruce, Amazon Women on the Moon, U.S. Marshals, Hancock, and episodes of Alice, Simon & Simon, Hardcastle and McCormick, The A-Team; Magnum, P.I.; Benson, The Facts of Life, 227, Hunter, My Two Dads, Night Court, MacGyver, Quantum Leap, Cheers, Harry and the Hendersons, Renegade, The X-Files, Hearts Afire, Empty Nest, Boy Meets World, Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, Weird Science, Pacific Blue, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Step by Step, Days of Our Lives, Arli$$, The Steve Harvey Show, Early Edition, and The Young and the Restless.
For a while, it seemed like Gibb was showing up everywhere.
As mentioned, he won a lot of hearts with his performance as Ogre in the Revenge of the Nerds films. He only missed out on one of the four; he was in the first movie, Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise, and Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love. He was already known for being Ogre when he landed the role of Ray “Tiny” Jackson in Bloodsport, a role he reprised in the Van Damme-less sequel Bloodsport 2.
What do we know about Donald Gibb’s passing?
TMZ reports that Gibb had been battling ongoing health issues. His son Travis told them he “passed Tuesday evening due to health complications. He died at his home in Texas, where he was surrounded by family, including his kids, who loved him deeply.“
Travis adds that “Donald loved the Lord and his family, friends, and fans with all his heart, and they ask for prayers and privacy during this difficult time. They add that their father will be deeply missed and forever remembered.“
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Donald Gibb’s fans and loved ones.
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