Photo: Hybrid LLC / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Bill Cobbs was one of those actors you'd recognize the second he appeared on screen even if you couldn't name him, and that quiet authority was the whole point. Born in Cleveland in 1934, he didn't break into film until his forties — which somehow only added to his gravitas. I love that he was the kind of performer directors kept calling back because he could anchor a scene with practically nothing: a look, a pause, a dry line reading. His turn as the kindly night guard Reginald in Night at the Museum brought him to a whole new generation, but serious film fans know his earlier work in The Brother from Another Planet is just as worth seeking out. He passed away in June 2024 at 90, and honestly the character-actor world is a little emptier for it.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bill Cobbs
- Name (Japanese)
- ビル・コッブス
- Reading
- びる・こっぶす
- Born
- June 16, 1934 – June 25, 2024
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Dog
- Origin
- Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- Occupation
- voice actor / television actor / film actor / actor
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Bill Cobbs born?
June 16, 1934 – June 25, 2024.
Where is Bill Cobbs from?
Bill Cobbs is from Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
What does Bill Cobbs do?
Bill Cobbs works as voice actor, television actor, film actor, actor.
Voice actor — see all → · Television actor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.