From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith (born February 28,
1945) is an American actor and former athlete. He was
a professional football player
in the 1960s and 1970s who became an actor in the late 1970s. Born
in Orange, Texas, he attended Beaumont
Charlton-Pollard high school in Beaumont, Texas. In addition to his
great football ability, he was well known for what was considered
to be a tremendous size at the time of his football career: 6 ft 7
in (201 cm), 283 lbs (128.37 kg), and size 16 feet. He is
the highest drafted Michigan State player in the NFL draft.
College
athlete
Smith played college football at Michigan State University. He
was awarded with All-America honors in 1965 and 1966. In his
junior season the Spartans tied for a National Title with Alabama
after losing the 1966 Rose Bowl 14-12 on January 1, 1966.
In his senior season, he played in the "Game of the
Century" (a 10–10 tie at home against the University of Notre Dame).
Michigan State finished 2nd in the voting behind Notre Dame but
still got a share of the National Title. In 1988, Smith was
enshrined in the College Football Hall of
Fame. Smith was a popular athlete at Michigan State, earning
the slogan "Kill Bubba Kill."
Michigan State retired his number 95 jersey on September 23,
2006, prior to the Spartans' home game against Notre Dame, amid
repeated cheers of his old slogan from the student section. This
game also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the "Game of the
Century".
Smith spent nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive end. He
was the first overall selection in the 1967 NFL Draft, chosen by the Baltimore
Colts (he became the first African-American
overall #1 to actually play in a game, as the first overall player
with this distinction, Ernie Davis, died without ever playing a
single down). Baltimore won Super Bowl V at the end of the 1970
season, earning Smith his only Super Bowl ring. However, in
interviews, he has stated that he never wears the ring, as it was
seen as a "sloppy" game by many. He was traded to the Oakland Raiders
before the 1973 season, and finished his career with the Houston
Oilers. He was selected All-Pro in 1971, All-AFC 1970 and
1971, went to two Pro
Bowls (also 1970 and 1971) and was a Second-team All-Pro in
1968 and 1970.
Professional
actor
After leaving professional football, Smith began his acting
career in small movie and television roles in the
late 1970s and early 1980s. He is best known for his role as Moses Hightower
in the Police
Academy film series, a role he has reprised in all but one
of the Police Academy sequels. He is the long time
spokesman of Baltimore area
law firm Cohen, Snyder,
Eisenberg & Katzenberg. Smith starred in the short-lived
television series Blue Thunder, partnering
with Pro Football Hall of Fame
defensive star Dick
Butkus. He was also a part of the successful Miller Lite beer
advertising campaign demonstrating "the easy opening can". He also
appeared once in an episode of Family Matters as Bones, a thuggish
debt collector for a local bookie. The nickname, Bones explains, is
derived from what he does to clients who don't settle their debts
in a timely manner. He also appeared twice on Married… with
Children, once as Al's old football nemesis "Spare Tire" Dixon
and once as himself. Other TV appearances include the 1980s sitcoms
Mr.
Belvedere and Who's the Boss?. He also appeared
from time to time on the sitcom Good Times as one of Sweet Daddy
Williams' bodyguards
along with John Amos, Esther Rolle, and Jimmie Walker.
Personal
Smith was born in Orange, Texas. His brother, Tody, played collegiately
for the University of Southern
California and professionally for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston
Oilers, and Buffalo Bills. His Father was Willie Ray
Smith, Sr. He played high school football for his father, coach
Willie Ray Smith, Sr. Willie Ray is the father of three All-State
Smiths -- Willie Ray, Jr., Tody, and Bubba. They made Charlton
Pollard High School a perennial power in Texas high school
football. In Bubba's senior year the school was 11-0, and college
recruiters constantly recruited at the Smith household until Bubba
decided to attend Michigan State University.
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