Veteran actor Lee Weaver, known for his roles across TV, film, and stage, passed away on September 22 at his Los Angeles home aged 95. His family said he “wove joy, depth, and representation into every role he played and everything he did.”
Born April 10, 1930, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Weaver served four years in the U.S. Army before working as a linotype engineer for The New York Times and a promoter at Birdland jazz club. He began acting on stage in the 1950s before landing his first TV role in Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he became a familiar face through shows like Good Morning World, I Spy, The Wild, Wild West, Mannix, Julia, and The Bill Cosby Show.
Weaver also appeared in Kojak, The Jeffersons, Good Times, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, showcasing his versatility.
In later years, he lent his voice to films such as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Donnie Darko, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and appeared in Grace and Frankie. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, actress Ta-Tanisha, and their daughter, Leis La-Te. Rest in peace, Lee Weaver.